LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members: Allowances

Frank Doran: To ask the Leader of the House whether the Members Estimate Committee has drawn up a detailed proposal for a communications allowance for hon. Members to assist in the work of communicating with the public on parliamentary business in accordance with the Resolution of 1 November 2006.

Jack Straw: The Members Estimate Committee's report on the 'Communications Allowance' was published yesterday as House of Commons Paper number 319.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Internally Displaced Persons

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent estimate is of the number of internally-displaced people in Afghanistan; and what assessment he has made of recent trends in that number.

Hilary Benn: The Government of Afghanistan (GoA) and the UN monitor the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) across Afghanistan. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) most recent assessment, conducted in early 2007, the estimated figure for long-standing IDPs in Afghanistan is some 130,000. Around 85 per cent. of these are located in four settlements in the south of the country.
	DFID is not directly involved in making such assessments, but monitors UN/GoA figures closely. We are most closely involved with IDPs in Helmand, where last year the UN estimated that around 2,800 families had been displaced. The UK Government responded to this by providing food aid and essential items like soap and blankets for 3,000 internally displaced families. This aid was distributed by the GoA.

Departments: Postal Services

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which postal companies handle mail dispatched by his Department and its agencies.

Gareth Thomas: DFID currently uses Royal Mail for the majority of its mail. In addition, there is also an overnight delivery service which transports various items including mail between DFID's two headquarters in London and East Kilbride, Scotland; this service is provided by TNT. Most items sent overseas go via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Bag Service. A small quantity of mail is sent by various commercial courier companies such as DDI, Churchill's, DHL and Initial City Link.

Developing Countries: Air Pollution

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy to raise the matter of the impact of indoor air pollution in the developing world at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York in April.

Gareth Thomas: The 15(th) Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 15) will take place in New York from 30 April to 11 May 2007. The four main themes this year are; Energy for Sustainable Development, Air Pollution/Atmosphere, Industrial Development and Climate Change.
	The UK is working with the current EU presidency to agree EU priorities for CSD 15, led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) with the support of DFID. These include reducing indoor air pollution due to the use of basic biomass fuels by households in developing countries for cooking and heating. The use of basic biomass arises from the lack of access to reliable, affordable and clean energy supplies. We will continue efforts to ensure this concern is included in the formal EU position and raised at CSD 15.

Developing Countries: Air Pollution

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to tackle deaths in the developing world caused by indoor air pollution.

Gareth Thomas: Indoor air pollution is a considerable health hazard for approximately 2.4 billion people around the world relying on poorly designed wood, dung and coal burning stoves for their cooking and heating. DFID has funded research into the problem, with a current £253,000 programme due to end in July 2007. This is being carried out by Practical Action, a UK based non-governmental organisation active in many developing countries.
	While raising awareness of the health risks may change behaviour to reduce exposure to smoke, the best solution is to improve access to reliable, affordable and clean energy supplies. DFID is supporting international efforts and programmes to improve access, including the EU Energy Initiative for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development (EUEI), the World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP) and the Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP).
	We are working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to ensure indoor pollution is raised at the forthcoming 15(th) Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 15) taking place in New York from 30 April to 11 May 2007.

Developing Countries: Water

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of reed-bed technology as a means of tackling water problems in the developing world.

Hilary Benn: Water shortages exist in many countries, and there is a risk of water pollution from human activities. Technologies for sanitation and wastewater management for specific situations are recommended on the basis of individual merits, and with the agreement of partners, taking account of local technical, financial, economic, social, and other considerations.
	The use of Gravel Bed Hydroponic (GBH) reed beds, conventional reed beds or constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment has been the subject of various DFID funded research projects over the last 20 years.
	For instance, from 1991 to 1995, DFID funded research into the use of reed beds to treat domestic and industrial wastewater in Egypt. Teams of scientists and engineers in the UK (University of Portsmouth) and Egypt (Suez Canal University) built, monitored and evaluated the operational performance of constructed wetlands as an appropriate technology for semi-arid, developing countries. The research did not provide clear evidence that reed beds were the most appropriate wastewater treatment option, and showed that industrial wastes resulted in erratic performance efficiency.
	The outputs of successful research and similar projects are promoted through dissemination channels such as our resource centre network and websites. These technologies have also been promoted in DFID programmes where appropriate. One in Bangladesh in collaboration with WaterAid has seen the use of reed bed technology in the urban environment evidenced.
	DFID Central Research Department is currently considering whether to develop a water and sanitation 'Research into Use' programme to promote the adoption of technologies generated through research. Such a programme might analyse the potential of outputs and fund uptake promotion of those technologies with greatest potential.

Mozambique: Floods

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid he is making available to the survivors of the recent flooding and cyclone in Mozambique.

Hilary Benn: DFID's total contribution to the relief effort in response to both the recent flooding and cyclone in Mozambique stands at £1.09 million. This is made up of donations to Save the Children, Oxfam, the Red Cross and CARE.

Zimbabwe: Overseas Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to assist those who have been affected by economic collapse in Zimbabwe;
	(2)  what recent representations his Department has received on the withholding of aid from Zimbabwe due to that country's political situation.

Hilary Benn: DFID has received no representations on the withholding of aid to Zimbabwe. The UK does not give direct funding to the Government of Zimbabwe. All DFID's funding is channelled through NGOs and UN agencies, much of it programmed jointly with other donors. We do not believe in cutting direct assistance to poor Zimbabweans and thus punishing them further for their unaccountable Government.
	The UK is one of the largest bilateral donors of humanitarian support to Zimbabwe, supporting over 1.5 million of the poorest people. Over the last five years, DFID has spent approximately £143 million in Zimbabwe, including over £33 million in the last financial year. This funding prioritises HIV/AIDS, food insecurity and supporting orphans and vulnerable children. DFID also supports civil society organisations to promote better governance and human rights. Our current programmes will help ensure that an additional 30,000 people receive anti-retroviral treatment, will provide health care for around 350,000 children, promote food security in urban and rural areas and assist extremely vulnerable displaced people.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Dental Health

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment was made of the oral health of recruits to each of the armed services in each year for which records are available.

Derek Twigg: The Defence Dental Services (DDS) conduct an oral health assessment of all recruits to the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. This assessment is of the oral fitness status and initial treatment requirement for each individual and is recorded in the individual's dental record. HQ DDS hold a record of individual fitness rates for recruits from 2004. The table shows the percentage of recruits from each service since records began who were:
	1—Fit
	2—Fit for role (dental work may be needed but no disease present)
	3—Unfit
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Royal Navy  Army  RAF 
			   1  2  3  1  2  3  1  2  3 
			 2004 68.0 28.2 3.8 29.1 33.0 37.9 51.0 39.6 9.4 
			 2005 43.0 44.3 12.7 30.8 36.5 32.6 50.3 40.0 9.7 
			 2005 44.3 43.6 12.1 30.4 36.8 32.4 54.8 37.0 82

Armed Forces: Expenditure

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure was on each of the armed services in each of the last 15 years.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 14 March 2006,  Official Report, column 2145W, to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn). Earlier accounts are contained within the MOD's Appropriation Accounts, copies of which can be found in the Library of the House. Budgetary structure and accounting treatment has changed progressively across the period in question.

Armed Forces: Voluntary Organisations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what his Department's charging regime is for events organised by charities when the main beneficiary is a services charity;
	(2)  on which occasions his Department waived fees for charity events organised by services charities in the financial years 2004-05 and 2005-06; and what the total amount of fees waived was;
	(3)  what charges his Department made on events organised by services charities for the financial years 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Derek Twigg: The MOD is required to recover the full cost of the services or facilities it provides to external bodies. HM Treasury rules for all Departments state that there are no special arrangements for the treatment of charities whether services or other.
	The information on charges made for events organised by services charities is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Army: Costs

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the running costs were of the housing provided by his Department to the  (a) Adjutant General,  (b) Chief of the General Staff and  (c) members of the Army Board in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the market value of the housing provided by his Department to the  (a) Chief of the General Staff,  (b) Adjutant General and  (c) members of the Army Board.

Derek Twigg: The Army Board consists of the Secretary of State for Defence, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the Chief of the General Staff, the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Commander in Chief Land Command, Adjutant General, Assistant Chief of the General Staff, the Director General of Land Equipment, Master General of the Ordnance and General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland).
	Civilian members of the Army Board are not entitled to occupy defence accommodation.
	The following table shows the latest available (financial year 2005-06) running costs for MOD provided housing.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Post 
			   CGS  AG  GOC NI  CinC Land 
			 Rent 8,645 11,088 n/a 14,490 
			 Utilities 5,657.15 5,158.02 4,739.30 6,629.43 
			 Maintenance 453 13,284.44 4,702.52 7,475.57 
			 Staff 130,103.13 61,259.59 110,161.19 155,082.01 
			 Total 144,858.28 90,790.05 119,603 183,677.01 
			 n/a = not applicable 
		
	
	In addition, ACGS occupies substitute single service accommodation rented from a private landlord at a cost to the MOD of £1,434.38 per month.
	All service personnel living in accommodation personally pay charges appropriate to the size and condition of the property they occupy, deducted at source from their salaries.
	The houses occupied by the Adjutant General and CinC Land are rented properties. The house occupied by CGS is leased from the Crown estate. The MOD has not therefore assessed the market value of these properties.
	The house occupied by GOC NI is owned by the MOD and is located within a barracks behind the wire. The current asset register value for the house is £66,306 but this does not represent the market value. No assessment of market value has been carried out.

Army: Manpower

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many members of the armed forces are assigned to the household of the  (a) Adjutant General and  (b) Chief of the General Staff;
	(2)  how many members of the armed forces are assigned to the households of members of the Army Board.

Derek Twigg: The Army Board consists of the Secretary of State for Defence, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the Chief of the General Staff, the Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Commander in Chief Land Command, Adjutant General, Assistant Chief of the General Staff, the Director General of Land Equipment, Master General of the Ordnance and General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland).
	Of the 12 members of the Army Board, four have members of the armed forces assigned to their households; the Chief of the General Staff has two, Commander in Chief Land has two, the Adjutant General has one, and the General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) has two.
	These figures do not include drivers or any other position related staff.

Army: Northern Ireland

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether  (a) general service soldiers,  (b) full-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service,  (c) part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service,  (d) full-time soldiers who served with the Ulster Defence Regiment and  (e) part-time soldiers who served with the Ulster Defence Regiment are automatically entitled to be members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 19 March 2007
	General service soldiers and full-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service are automatically entitled to be members of one of the Armed Forces Pension Schemes. Full-time soldiers who served with the Ulster Defence Regiment had an automatic entitlement to be members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75). Part-time members of the Royal Irish Home Service are not entitled to be members of one of the Armed Forces Pension Schemes. Similarly, part-time soldiers who served with the Ulster Defence Regiment were not entitled to be members of the AFPS 75 Scheme.
	The policy in relation to the non-pensionable status of part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment is currently being challenged through an industrial tribunal.

Army: Northern Ireland

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether  (a) general service soldiers,  (b) full-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service,  (c) part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service,  (d) full-time soldiers who served with the Ulster Defence Regiment and  (e) part-time soldiers who served with the Ulster Defence Regiment contribute directly from their pay into the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 19 March 2007
	None of these groups make a contribution from their pay into the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. When setting pay levels for all personnel up to Brigadier and equivalents, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) looks at a range of factors in their consideration of overall pay comparability. Pension is just one of these factors. The AFPRB then makes an adjustment to comparator earnings to reflect the value of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) benefits compared with the pension benefits of comparator employees.

Army: Northern Ireland

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what benefits have been provided since 1977 by the Armed Forces Pension Scheme to  (a) general service soldiers,  (b) full-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service,  (c) part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service,  (d) full-time soldiers who served with the Ulster Defence Regiment and  (e) part-time soldiers who served with the Ulster Defence Regiment and the (i) widows, (ii) widowers and (iii) children of such soldiers.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 19 March 2007
	The Army Pensions Warrant 1977 contains details of all the pension benefits provided under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75). SI 438/2005 and SI 717/2006 (Amendment) contain details of all the pension benefits provided under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (AFPS 05). These have already been placed in the Library. However, part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service, part-time soldiers who served with the Ulster Defence Regiment and their dependants are not entitled to pensions under the Armed Forces Pension Schemes.
	The policy in relation to the non-pensionable status of part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment is being challenged through an industrial tribunal.

Cluster Munitions

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcomes of the Oslo conference on cluster munitions were; how his Department plans to implement the agreement reached at the conference; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The UK supported the Oslo Declaration, committing us to work towards a new legally binding instrument on certain types of cluster munition that cause unacceptable harm to civilians. The UK's interpretative statement at Oslo explains how this fits with our national policy. We will continue to pursue the intent agreed at Oslo with all the users and producers through the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and other relevant forums.

Cluster Munitions

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what he expects the effects of the outcome of the Oslo conference on cluster munitions to be on the Government's maintenance of stockpiles of  (a) dumb and  (b) not-dumb cluster munitions; and if he will make a statement.

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on the use of the UK's stockpiled cluster bombs, following the Oslo conference, broken down by type of cluster bomb.

Adam Ingram: On 4 December 2006 we stated in a Written Ministerial Statement the UK position on cluster munitions and that we would withdraw dumb variants by the middle of the next decade. On 15 December, in debate in the House of Lords, we explained that we were examining the possibility of bringing this date forward. We have now completed our assessment and, as we stated in a Written Ministerial Statement on 20 March 2007, we will now withdraw our two dumb cluster munition variants, the RBL755 and MLRS M26, with immediate effect. We shall retain our other cluster munition, the ERBS M85, which we do not deem to be a dumb cluster munition.

Cluster Munitions

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 23 February 2007,  Official Report, column 960W, on bombs, what he expects the effects of the outcome of the Oslo conference on cluster munitions to be on the Government's procurement of the  (a) guided multiple launch rocket system and  (b) the Brimstone advanced anti-armour weapon; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The outcome of the Oslo conference will not affect procurement of the guided multiple launch rocket system and the Brimstone advanced anti-armour weapon.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2007,  Official Report, column 960W, on the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO), which individuals were sent a copy of the March 2004 DESO staff directory and were not employees of defence industry companies.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 19 March 2007
	It is not our normal practice to disclose the names of individuals with whom we have communicated in the course of departmental business. We consider such information to be personal data, which the individuals concerned can reasonably expect that we would neither publish nor otherwise disclose to a third party.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many copies of the 2005 edition of the Defence Export Services Organisation staff directory were distributed to individuals outside his Department; and what categories of people were given copies of the directory.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 19 March 2007
	The information requested forms part of a witness statement submitted by the Ministry of Defence to the Information Tribunal, which will next month hear a case under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 concerning the staff directory of the Defence Export Services Organisation. I will write to the hon. Member after the tribunal has delivered its decision and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Departments: Appeals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department and its executive agencies in  (a) 1997-98,  (b) 2001-02 and  (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

Derek Twigg: There are two independent bodies whose function is to hear appeals on decisions made by the Ministry of Defence. The Reserve Forces Appeals Tribunal, created in 1997, hears appeals against call-out for service, or against the level of financial assistance to be provided after call-out, lodged by reservists or their employers. The Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors, established in 1970, hears (but does not decide) appeals from service personnel whose application to retire or to resign a commission on the grounds of conscience has not been accepted by the service authorities.

Departments: Complaints

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many complaints were received by his Department and its executive agencies in  (a) 1997-98,  (b) 2001-02 and  (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date;
	(2)  how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in his Department and its executive agencies in  (a) 1997-98,  (b) 2001-02 and  (c) 2005-06; and how many have done so in 2006-07 to date.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence does not keep a central record of complaints, and to gather this data would involve disproportionate cost.
	Complaints are generally dealt with by subject-matter experts alongside other correspondence on the same subject. There are, however, two teams whose main role is dealing with complaints. One handles internal reviews of responses to FOI requests, and subsequent appeals to the Information Commissioner and the Information Tribunal. Before the FOI Act came fully into force in January 2005, similar work was carried out under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The second team deals with complaints about service flying in the lower airspace. The strengths of these teams are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Strength in full-time equivalent staff of complaints teams 
			  Team  1997-98  2001-02  2005-06  2006-07 
			 FOI appeals team 0 1 3 3.5 
			 Low flying complaints unit 5 5 4 4

Departments: Hilsea

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis his Department has asked for a compliant bid from potential developers for the redundant Ministry of Defence site at Matapan Road, Hilsea; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Formal tenders are an appropriate method of selling surplus public sector assets because they create a level playing field for all prospective purchasers. They provide transparency and certainty of bids and so avoid the potential difficulties sometimes associated with informal negotiations. In this case the site had the benefit of outline planning permission and agreed SI 06 contributions and thus was suitable for sale by formal tender. It was advertised through Defence Estates' marketing agents, Drivers Jonas.
	The bidding guidelines and legal conditions of sale made it clear that, in order to be compliant, all bids were to be submitted on the appropriate 'Form of Offer' with a 10 per cent. deposit and on an unconditional basis only. Moreover, the conditions of sale stated that the Ministry of Defence reserved the right to disregard any tender which was not submitted in accordance with the conditions of sale including any marked subject to contract.

Ex-servicemen

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a veterans' card will be available; what the attributes of the proposed veterans' card are; why there has been a delay in producing a veterans' card; and what companies and organisations he has met to discuss the production of the card.

Derek Twigg: The Department has received recent approaches from two companies—EDS and Forces Online—proposing the introduction of a veterans' card. I have met with EDS and officials have met with both companies to explore the possible benefits. We have separately consulted ex-service organisations to seek their views on the merits of such a card; their clear conclusion was that there was no significant tangible benefit to be had from a card and that the idea was not therefore worth pursuing. In the light of these discussions, we have no current plans to introduce a veterans' card but will keep the matter under review.

Ex-servicemen

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department provides to ensure that skills and qualifications obtained by personnel during their period in the armed forces can be utilised and applied in civilian life; and if he will take steps to improve the assistance available to ex-service personnel in this regard.

Derek Twigg: The provision of opportunities for service personnel to gain nationally recognised civilian qualifications is an important component of the MOD's Personnel Strategy and is detailed in "Defence Policy for the Accreditation of Education, Training and Experience", which aims to have military training, education and experience, where appropriate, accredited against nationally recognised qualifications. Furthermore, the priorities set in this policy are aligned with those in the Government's National Skills Strategy, focusing particularly on qualifications in literacy and numeracy and in wider employability skills, such as NVQs and Apprenticeships, but also accreditation leading to higher education qualifications, including Foundation Degrees.
	Although the attainment of the operational requirement remains the primary goal of military training, accreditation to civilian qualifications has an obvious benefit to recruiting, retention and resettlement. The success of this policy is such that, in the last financial year, personnel in the armed services gained:
	in excess of 11,000 NVQs or other Level 2 qualifications;
	over 8,000 apprenticeships at either Levels 2 or 3;
	and 500 completed Foundation Degrees.
	In addition, staff are constantly seeking further opportunities with Awarding Bodies to extend the linkage of military training, education and experience to appropriate civilian qualifications.
	However, it is more difficult for Awarding Bodies to validate, in terms of quality assurance and syllabus content, military training and education that was undertaken by serving and ex-serving personnel a number of years ago and thus provide retrospective accreditation opportunities. For those who have left the services with no or very low level qualifications, there are opportunities with local colleges and training providers to gain civilian qualifications funded through schemes such as the Learning and Skills Council's "Train to Gain".
	Financial assistance is also provided to support service personnel in gaining nationally-recognised qualifications for their own personal development through the Armed Forces Learning Credits Schemes. First, under the Standard Learning Credit Scheme, service personnel are eligible to claim from public funds 80 per cent. of course fees, up to a maximum of £175 per financial year. Secondly, the Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) Scheme (introduced in 2004) provides larger scale support to pay for higher level academic and vocational learning at Level 3 or above on the National Qualifications Framework. The claim limit is also 80 per cent. of the annual fee (the claimant making a minimum 20 per cent. personal contribution to demonstrate their commitment). Individuals can draw down a maximum of £1,000 per annum on three occasions after serving four years from registration, and this rises to £2,000 per annum having served eight years after registration. Since the introduction of the ELC Scheme, over 225,000 personnel have registered with 16,500 claims made. While the majority of those registered have not yet made a claim, many of the claims are made in the last two years of service and are used alongside individuals' resettlement provision. Moreover, claims under the ELC Scheme can be made up to 10 years after leaving the armed forces.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many sorties British personnel have participated in flying in  (a) SAMA CH2000 and  (b) SB7L Seeker aircraft flown by Iraqi pilots;
	(2)  how many sorties have been flown in support of British ground operations by Iraqi air force aircraft;
	(3)  whether helicopters supplied by the UK to the Iraqi air force will be available to support British ground operations.

Adam Ingram: While some UK personnel have flown in Seeker aircraft this is not a regular occurrence and no record of such activity is kept. In the last two months some 70 sorties have been flown in support of British ground operations by Iraqi air force aircraft. No helicopters have been supplied by the UK to the Iraqi air force.

Living Accommodation

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the procedures are for assessing the cleanliness and habitability of armed forces personnel housing before a new tenant moves in; and how many complaints were lodged upon moving in about unclean or ill-equipped housing in each year since 2004.

Derek Twigg: I apologise for the delay in replying to the hon. Member's question. For Great Britain the procedures for assessing the cleanliness and habitability of service families accommodation (SFA) are laid down in the MOD's Housing Management Manual. A number of separate checks for levels of cleanliness and inspections on equipment are carried out prior to a service family moving into SFA. The standards are set out in the contracts with the service providers for SFA and incorporated in the Guide to Living in Service Family Accommodation.
	In England and Wales, there are more than 20,000 move-ins each year. Prior to the rolling-out of the Housing Prime Contract (HPC) in 2006, there were no separate complaints recorded for the level of cleanliness. Under the HPC, in 2006 there were 573 separately recorded complaints about cleanliness. This level of complaints was due to the early problems experienced with the HPC. There is no separate recording process for ill-equipped housing.
	In Scotland, houses are maintained through a regional prime contract. There are some 1,500 move-ins each year in Scotland and the number of overall complaints in Scotland were three in 2004, four in 2005 and two in 2006.

Marines: Criminal Records

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Marines were allowed to return to the service in 2006 having served a prison sentence.

Derek Twigg: In 2006 14 Royal Marines were subject to military detention at Military Corrective Training Centre Colchester and all continued in service following completion of sentence. Additionally, three Royal Marines were imprisoned following conviction by civilian courts. One of these was retained in service on completion of sentence.

Puma Helicopters: Procurement

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce his decision on the proposal to acquire eight Puma AS 330 SI helicopters from Eurocopter; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 12 March 2007
	We are considering a number of options to increase the flexibility and capability of our helicopter fleet.

Warships

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what names have been selected by the Ships' Names and Badges Committee for the future  (a) seventh and eighth Type 45 destroyers and  (b) the fourth Astute class submarine.

Adam Ingram: No names have been selected by the Ships' Names and Badges Committee for the seventh and eighth Type 45 destroyers. The name for the fourth Astute class submarine has been approved by Her Majesty the Queen and an official announcement will be made once the order has been placed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Smoking

Frank Doran: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the Commission has decided where smoking will be permitted on the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate after 1 July 2007.

Nick Harvey: The Health Act 2006 introduces a ban on smoking in workplaces and enclosed or substantially enclosed public places from 1 July 2007. While the Act does not formally apply on the parliamentary estate, the Commission, on the advice of the Administration Committee, has decided that the House should comply with the principles of the legislation, as it is not desirable that those who work on or visit the parliamentary estate should be treated differently in this respect from those in other workplaces and public places. The Commission recognises, however, that many who work on the estate are unavoidably present for long periods, particularly when the House is sitting. It is therefore desirable to make reasonable provision for those who wish to smoke to do so, provided that the health and safety of other users of the estate is not adversely affected.
	With these principles in mind, the Commission has decided that smoking should cease to be permitted from 1 July 2007 in all internal areas of the House of Commons estate, including in bars and private offices. From that date smoking will, however, be permitted in four designated external areas: the Terrace, Commons Court (North West corner), North Terrace (between Portcullis House and Norman Shaw South), and in a designated area on the west side of Canon Row courtyard. Cigarette receptacles will be provided in these areas. "No Smoking" signs will be displayed at entrances to the buildings. I understand that the House of Lords Administration and Works Committee will report its recommendations shortly on the smoking policy for the Lords part of the parliamentary estate.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agricultural Wages Board

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to retain the Agricultural Wages Board.

Barry Gardiner: Retention of the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) is a Labour party manifesto commitment. This was re-affirmed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Margaret Beckett) at the Labour party conference in September 2005. We considered the future operation of the AWB before Christmas and agreed that no changes should be made at the present time.

Departments: Orders and Regulations

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the  (a) one-off and  (b) recurring cost of implementing the Electricity and Gas (Energy Efficiency Obligations) Order 2004 to (i) businesses and (ii) the regulators.

Ian Pearson: The Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for the Electricity and Gas (Energy Efficiency Obligations) Order 2004 estimated that the cost to energy suppliers of meeting their energy efficiency obligations for 2005-08 would be around £1,200 million. If passed on in full to their domestic customers, this would be no more than about £9 per fuel bill per customer per year. We do not anticipate any recurring costs for energy suppliers (other than complying with subsequent obligations). On average costs will be more than outweighed by the benefits to householders in terms of reduced fuel bills or increased comfort from the installation of energy efficiency measures. The RIA estimated that overall lifetime-discounted savings would amount to a net present value of around £1,000 million by 2010, £3,400 million by 2020 and £5,400 million over the lifetime of the measures. Ofgem has estimated that its direct costs of administration for the three-year programme will be around £1.2 million.
	DEFRA is committed to regulating better and has a target of a 25 per cent. reduction in administrative burdens. The implementation of a more risk based approach to regulation, in conjunction with tougher penalties combined with improved effectiveness via focus on outcomes, and simplification where possible, is fully consistent with this.

Lighting

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the costs of  (a) manufacturing and  (b) disposing of (i) an energy friendly light bulb and (ii) an incandescent light bulb.

Ian Pearson: The Department does not hold information on the costs of manufacturing and disposal of either energy friendly or bayonet light bulbs. This commercial information is held by the companies concerned.

Sewage

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to implement his plans to transfer responsibility for private sewers to sewerage companies; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I announced on 22 February the Government's decision to proceed with the transfer to water and sewerage companies of private sewers and lateral drains in England draining to the public sewerage system. This offers the most comprehensive solution to the problems faced by householders whose properties are connected to a private sewer or lateral drain.
	The Government will now consult on a range of ways transfer can be implemented. The consultation will also be used to examine how to prevent the proliferation of new private sewers, in order to prevent the reoccurrence of existing problems. The responses to consultation will inform the drafting of regulations to provide for Water and Sewerage Companies (WaSCs) to make 'schemes' to effect transfer. The earliest date these regulations could be in force is likely to be summer 2008.

TRANSPORT

East Coast Railway Line

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what priority has been given to the redevelopment of existing station facilities in the advice given to bidders for the East Coast Mainline franchise.

Tom Harris: Bidders for the InterCity East Coast franchise have been advised of the need to enhance station facilities. These include improving facilities for cyclists, additional car parking spaces and improvements to accessibility for passengers to and from stations. An important dimension is the need for security at stations for passengers and staff through the retention of the present secure station accreditation at all stations where the franchisee is the station facility owner (SFO).
	The plan for improving station facilities is given equal weighting to other plans required from the bidding parties.

Galileo Project

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  which countries have put in bids for the Galileo satellite navigation project;
	(2)  what progress has been made at a European level on the Galileo satellite navigation project.

Stephen Ladyman: The European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA) is the EU agency that will own Galileo on behalf of the Community and be responsible for regulating and overseeing it. It has been set up in Brussels initially and is currently being staffed. Eleven member states are bidding to provide it with a permanent location: Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, and the UK—with a bid for Cardiff. Germany has not made a decision on the location of the GSA a priority during its current presidency of the Union.
	The technical development of the system is a joint project of the European Commission and the European Space Agency. Contracts have been let to Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. for a test satellite, successfully launched in December 2005, and to European Satellite Navigation Industries for another test satellite and for the first four operational satellites that will validate the system.
	It is intended that a private sector concessionaire will manage and operate the Galileo system under a 20 year concession, in a public-private partnership (PPP). The GSA has been negotiating with a consortium bidding for this role. The Commission target is for the contract to be signed by end 2007. Full operational capability of the Galileo system is currently expected in 2011-12.

Lighthouses: Ireland

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the basis is in international law for the UK's contribution to the Irish lights fund.

Stephen Ladyman: Regulation 13 of Chapter V of the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea places a general responsibility on contracting Governments for the adequate provision of aids to navigation in and around each of their respective coastal areas. Under Part VIII of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, responsibility for the provision of marine aids to navigation has been given to the general lighthouse authorities (GLAs). These are Trinity House Lighthouse Service, the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Commissioners of Irish Lights, which provides aids to navigation around the coast of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
	Under the Merchant Shipping Act, the expenses incurred by all three GLAs are paid out of the general lighthouse fund (GLF), into which are paid light dues collected in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The GLF is administered by the Secretary of State. Under an agreement signed in 1985, the Irish Government agreed to contribute to the provision of aids to navigation in the Republic. There is no contribution from the UK Government to the GLF nor is there a separate Irish lights fund.

Official Cars

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 381W, on official cars, how many Cabinet Ministers have chosen the  (a) Jaguar and  (b) Prius.

Stephen Ladyman: Ministerial official cars are provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency. Currently, six Cabinet Ministers use the diesel powered Jaguar XJ and five use the Toyota Prius.

Official Cars: Driving Offences

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving offences were committed by drivers while working for the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency conducts an annual inspection of all driving licences of its drivers. Any driver with six or more points on his or her licence is reminded that the maintenance of a valid licence is a requirement of the job.

Ports: Fees and Charges

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost, including harbour dues and pilotage costs, of access for ships to  (a) British ports and  (b) continental ports.

Stephen Ladyman: This Department has not carried out its own detailed assessment of these costs. In the United Kingdom, harbour dues and pilotage charges are set by individual harbours according to commercial decisions under their own harbour acts and under the Pilotage Act 1987. Harbour dues and pilotage charges in other countries are set similarly within their respective legislative and financial frameworks.

Ports: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the date was of each safety inspection carried out on a ship or an aircraft using a port or airport in Northern Ireland in the last three years for which figures are available; what the country of registration of the vessel or aircraft involved was in each case; and what the outcome was of the inspection in each case.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Ports: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the countries of registration were of ships and aircraft using Northern Ireland's ports and airports in the last three years for which information is available.

Stephen Ladyman: The following list shows the various countries of registration of ships which used Northern Ireland's ports for the last 18 months. It is the only information available.
	Antigua and Barbuda
	Antilles, Netherlands
	Bahamas
	Barbados
	Belgium
	Belize
	Bermuda
	Bulgaria
	Cambodia
	Cayman Islands
	China
	Comoros
	Cook Islands
	Croatia
	Cyprus
	Denmark
	Dominica
	Dominican Republic
	Estonia
	Faroe Islands
	Finland
	France
	Georgia
	Germany
	Gibraltar
	Greece
	Grenada
	Hong Kong, China
	India
	Ireland
	Israel
	Italy
	Latvia
	Liberia
	Lithuania
	Luxembourg
	Malta
	Man Isle of
	Marshall Islands
	Myanmar
	Netherlands
	Norway
	Panama
	Philippines
	Poland
	Portugal
	Russian Federation
	Sierra Leone
	Singapore
	Slovakia
	Spain
	St. Vincent and Grenadines
	United Kingdom
	The Department for Transport does not maintain the requested information on aircraft that have operated to any UK airport. Such information would be found from the aircraft movement logs that are maintained by individual airports.

Railways: Bicycles

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of train services permit rail-users to take bicycles on board trains.

Tom Harris: All train operating companies (TOCs) permit the carriage of bikes. The Stansted Express carries only folding bikes and bikes flat packed for air travel. All other TOCs carry bikes though most have restrictions either on the number of bikes that can be carried or only carry folding bikes on some peak services.
	This is in line with the Department's advice to TOCs that they carry bikes whenever possible in line with the cycling policy document first published by the former Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) in 2004 and since adopted by this Department.
	We have asked Cycling England, our advisory body on cycling to carry out a review of how we might further improve the integration of bike and rail journeys in England.

Railways: Disabled

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been allocated for the Railways for All accessibility strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Harris: £370 million has been allocated, up to 2015, to improve access at railway stations in Great Britain as part of the Railways for All strategy.

Railways: Taunton

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the reliability of  (a) all train services from Taunton to Paddington and  (b) the 7.07am train service from Taunton to Paddington in the last 12 months.

Tom Harris: In the year to 3 March 2007, the public performance measure moving annual average (PPM MAA) for First Great Western (FGW) train services as a whole was 83.3 per cent.(1) which is an increase of 0.6 per cent. on last year's performance. The Department for Transport does not keep separate records on the reliability of trains running from Taunton to Paddington.
	A meeting has been held with FGW and Network Rail to assess performance and reliability. Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and FGW to address performance trends and train reliability and these are monitored monthly.
	( 1 ) Source:
	Network Rail

Road Traffic

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many major trunk road schemes there have been to improve safety and improve traffic flow at junctions since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: There have been eight major (i.e. over £5 million) trunk road schemes to improve safety and traffic flow at junctions since 1997. These are as follows:
	
		
			  Scheme  Scheme objective 
			 A34 Chieveley/M4 Jct 13 Improvement Congestion relief, safety improvement 
			 A1 Stannington Junction Safety improvement 
			 A64 Colton Lane Grade Separated Junction Safety improvement 
			 A14 Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction Safety improvement 
			 A63 Melton Grade Separated Junction Safety improvement, congestion relief 
			 A500 City Road and Stoke Junction Improvement Improving journey times, congestion relief, safety improvement. 
			 A30/A382 Merrymeet Junction Congestion relief, safety improvement 
			 A419 Commonhead Junction Congestion relief, safety improvement

Shipping: Registration

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the report for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency by Mr. Geoff Adam on the re-launch of the UK Shipping Register.

Stephen Ladyman: The report is a commercially sensitive document. At this time we do not consider it appropriate to release it publicly.

South West Trains: Overcrowding

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research he has  (a) initiated and  (b) evaluated on (i) the level of overcrowding on key routes operated by South West Trains (main line) and (ii) projected levels of overcrowding in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The Department only has access to data covering passengers in excess of capacity (PIXC), which applies to weekday commuter trains arriving in London between 7 am and 9.59 am and those departing London between 4 pm and 6.59 pm. Within the terms of its franchise agreement, Stagecoach South West Trains is measured against total capacity provided and not the PIXC measure.
	The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) publishes PIXC figures in its National Rail Trends publication, the most recent version covering 2005 was published on 5 July 2006.
	The document is on the internet at the following address http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/294.pdf and has been made available in the Library of the House.
	With regard to future demand, the Network Rail route utilisation strategy assumed a growth of 20 per cent. over 10 years. The Department, in letting the new South Western franchise, asked bidders to develop innovative means to manage the expected increase in demand.

Tolls

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects the road pricing or congestion charging pilots funded by the Transport Innovation Fund  (a) to involve the use of CCTV and  (b) to be integrated with the Police's National Auto Number Plate Recognition Data Centre.

Stephen Ladyman: The choice of systems and technology to be used for road pricing or congestion charging schemes funded by the Transport Innovation Fund will be a matter for local authorities implementing the pilot schemes. The Department has published "Guidance for Local Authorities TIF partnership", which advises local authorities on different technologies available and how they might deploy them. We expect schemes to be focused on tackling congestion.

Tolls

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that rural issues are taken into account when decisions are made on any new road charging system.

Stephen Ladyman: No decisions have been taken on the introduction of a national road pricing scheme, or indeed on the design of any scheme. We are asking local authorities, in preparing proposals for local road pricing schemes, to assess the impacts on all groups so as to inform the scheme design.

TREASURY

Bank Notes

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of £5 notes in circulation; and what plans he has to increase the supply.

Edward Balls: The Bank of England is responsible for issuing banknotes in England and Wales. It estimates that on 28 February 2007 there were 220 million of its £5 notes in circulation with a total value of £1,100 million.
	The Bank's policy is for supply of new notes each year to meet the banking system's demand. Therefore the Bank will increase supply in response to demand from the banking system.

Bank Notes: Greater London

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) £5,  (b) £10 and  (c) £20 notes are being stored in London by the Bank of England.

Edward Balls: The Bank of England's stocks of new notes stored in the UK on the 28 February 2007 are shown in the following table. For completeness, the figure for £50 notes is also included.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Denomination  Value  Number of notes 
			 £5 1,014.3 202.9 
			 £10 3,697.9 369.8 
			 £20 8,553.9 427.7 
			 £50 908.4 18.2 
		
	
	For security reasons the Bank does not disclose the locations of the notes in storage.

Birth Rate

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of  (a) the effect of fluctuations in birth rates on economic growth over the past 40 years and  (b) the likely effect of such fluctuations on growth over the next 40 years.

John Healey: The Government set out their assessment of the effect of demographic factors on economic growth over past cycles, and their projection for the medium term, in each Budget and pre-Budget report. The Government published long-term employment and GDP projections covering the period up to 2055 in the 2006 'Long-term public finance report'.
	The Government's forward projections take into account previous demographic trends, including fluctuations in birth rates. In addition, the Government's long-term projections take into account future birth rates as given by the Government Actuary's Department's latest set of principal population projections.

Birth Rate

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what projection he has made of the number of births in England in each year until 2012.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 20 March 2007:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question regarding what projection has been made of the number of births in England in each year until 2012. (128855)
	The most recent projection of the number of births was published as part of the 2004-based national population projections published in October 2005. The information requested is available at:
	http://www.gad.gov.uk/Population/2004/england/weng04cc.xls
	The next (2006-based) national population projections are scheduled for publication in October 2007.

Child Tax Credit: ICT

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child tax credit claims are currently unpaid because of software problems.

Dawn Primarolo: In circumstances where HM Revenue and Customs is unable automatically to pay claimants their full entitlement it will arrange for manual payments to be made.

Child Tax Credit: ICT

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the software problem is which has prevented payment of child tax credit from April 2006 to Mr. and Mrs. Symons of Verwood;
	(2)  when he expects to pay the child tax credit due to Mr. and Mrs. Symons of Verwood.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I laid before the House on 6 December 2006,  Official Report, column 14-15WS.
	HM Revenue and Customs will contact the hon. Member's constituents to discuss alternative arrangements to pay their child tax credit.

Construction Industry Scheme

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many temporary Construction Industry Scheme 4 cards were issued to migrant workers in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006;
	(2)  how many temporary Construction Industry Scheme 4 cards were issued in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006.

John Healey: The number of temporary Construction Industry Scheme 4 cards issued in recent years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of temporary CIS4 cards issued 
			 2004-05 74,000 
			 2005-06 77,000 
			 2006-07(1) 66,000 
			 (1) Data for 2006-07 are incomplete 
		
	
	The number of temporary Construction Industry Scheme 4 cards issued to migrant workers is not available.

Departments: London Underground

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has travelled on the London underground on official business in the last 12 months.

John Healey: The Chancellor has travelled on the London underground on numerous occasions during the last year on official business, the most recent being last week. It is not our practice to set out the details.

Departments: Paper

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms are in place to ensure his Department's economical use of paper.

John Healey: The economical use of paper is part of the overall Waste Management Strategy. Under this strategy, staff are encouraged to use printers wisely, and recycling facilities are provided at every desktop.

Departments: Work Permits

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many work permits were applied for by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years.

John Healey: In recruiting overseas nationals, the Treasury follows the Civil Service Nationality Rules published by the Cabinet Office.
	The Treasury applied for three work permits in 2006-07. Information for previous years is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

History: Curriculum

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister for Scotland on promoting British history in Scottish schools.

John Healey: Treasury Ministers are in constant contact with colleagues on a wide variety of issues, including with colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Income Tax

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income tax was paid in the last year for which figures are available by individuals whose income did not exceed their tax free allowance; and what percentage was claimed back.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not possible to identify how much income tax was paid by individuals on income below the personal allowance. However, the total amount of tax on savings income reclaimed by individuals is around £180 million per year.

Inheritance Tax

Michael Gove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households paid inheritance tax in each year since 1996-7.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of estates paying inheritance tax each year is published on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax receipts/tablel-4.xls.

Inheritance Tax: Northern Ireland

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Northern Ireland paid inheritance tax in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the number of taxpaying estates where the domicile of the deceased was in Northern Ireland.
	
		
			   Number of Northern Ireland estates paying inheritance tax 
			 2000-01 600 
			 2001-02 500 
			 2002-03 500 
			 2003-04 600 
			 2004-05 500 
			 2005-06 500

Olympic Games: Greater London

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in pay band 3 worked on the preparations of the original budget for the 2012 Olympics.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 13 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1198W.

Radio Frequencies: Licensing

Dai Havard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of grant-in-aid has been agreed with Ofcom to undertake its spectrum management functions for 2007-08; and what spectrum auctions he expects Ofcom to undertake in 2007-08.

John Healey: £79 million of grant-in-aid has been agreed with Ofcom to undertake its spectrum management functions for 2007-08. There is a separate spending cap to cover awards of new spectrum and any costs of clearing spectrum.
	The timetable for spectrum auctions is a matter for Ofcom as the independent regulator.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the costs of  (a) transferring 0845 codes for HM Revenue and Customs services to a freephone 0800 service and  (b) using a system where the customer is informed of his or her place in the telephone queue system and the likely time their call will be answered; and if he will assess the merits of introducing such changes.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC keeps its policy and practice for handling telephone calls from customers through its centrally managed contact centre network under constant review. It remains HMRC current policy to operate customer facing helplines using an 0845 rather than a "freephone" 0800 prefix as the Department believes this strikes the right balance of cost between the customer and the public purse.
	HMRC is however also keeping a close watch on proposals being taken forward by Ofcom to introduce a new range of non-geographic "030" numbers.

Rural Development Programme

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what commitment his Department has made to funding for the Rural Development Programme.

John Healey: Treasury Ministers and officials discuss a wide range of issues with their colleagues in other Departments as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Schools: Cadets

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2007,  Official Report, column 326W, on school cadet forces, whether Sir Ian Russell's replacement has taken over his responsibilities for cadet forces fundraising.

Dawn Primarolo: No.
	In June 2006, the Government announced funding for the creation of six new state school cadet units. The new units will be set up for three-year pilot periods and will receive initial funding of £800,000 in 2007-08. The pilot expansion of cadet forces will be funded by Government, with a view to consideration of continued expansion of the cadet forces in future years.
	Rod Aldridge was appointed chair of v, the new national youth volunteering charity established to take forward the recommendations of Ian Russell's report on youth action and engagement in April 2006. He engages in fundraising for a wide range of youth volunteering activities through v.

Taxation: EC Law

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) progress has been made with and  (b) outcome has arisen in each group litigation order tax cases brought against the Government in the European Court since 2003 in which no proceedings are active in UK courts; and what estimate he has made of the likely impact on revenues in 2007-08.

Dawn Primarolo: Since 2003, four UK group litigation order tax cases have been referred to the ECJ.
	For the Franked Investment Income Group Litigation and Class IV of the Advanced Corporation Tax Group Litigation, ECJ judgments were handed down on 12 December 2006. For the Thin Capitalisation Group Litigation, ECJ judgment was handed down on 13 March 2007. These three cases are now waiting a High Court hearing and so there have been no final outcomes. For the CFC and dividend GLO, the High Court referred this case to the ECJ on 15 March 2005, however no date has yet been fixed for an oral hearing. The case is therefore also not yet final.
	Given that the outcome of none of these GLOs is final, it would be wrong to comment on revenue impact.

VAT: Public Bodies

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the legislative mechanisms are for making public bodies exempt from the payment of value added tax; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which public bodies have an exemption from the payment of value added tax; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Public bodies pay VAT on their purchases in the same way as any other consumer or business. Under the principles of public funding, irrecoverable VAT costs, like other running costs, are taken into account when determining the funding allocated to those bodies. This is the way the VAT system has worked in relation to public bodies since its introduction in 1973.

Welfare Tax Credits: Fraud

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether cases of forged tax credits resulting in prosecution  (a) are reported to local jobcentres and  (b) affect the payment of benefits to the individual concerned.

Dawn Primarolo: Criminal Investigation within HMRC is responsible for prosecuting offences connected with tax credits.  (a) Criminal Investigation does not as a matter of course report cases resulting in prosecution for offences connected with tax credits to local Jobcentres.  (b) It does however liaise with the Department for Work and Pensions if there are similar offences or benefits potentially affected.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Andrew Selous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there is provision for relaxation of the repayment rules for tax credit claimants who receive an overpayment as a single award and then enter a joint claim with their spouse/partner to allow repayment to be made over the period that repayments would have been taken from future payments on a single claim; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC's approach to recovering overpayments is outlined in its Code of Practice 26 "What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?"

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her officials had with the Casino Advisory Panel on the consistency of the arrangements of the Examinations in Public.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 March 2007
	None. The Casino Advisory Panel (CAP) is entirely independent of the Government. The arrangements for the Examinations in Public (EiPs) were entirely a matter for the panel, and it would not have been appropriate for the Government to intervene. Guidance notes for participants in the EiPs were sent to all the shortlisted authorities in August 2006. Professor Stephen Crow, the Chair of the CAP, who is experienced in chairing similar hearings as part of the planning process, chaired all seven Examinations in Public to ensure consistency.

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Casino Advisory Panel took to ensure that bidding authorities for the regional casino licence were given equal periods of time to present their case at their respective Examinations in Public.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 March 2007
	Guidance notes for participants in the Examinations in Public (EiP) were sent to all participating authorities in August 2006. This made it clear that a day had been set aside for each EiP, and that each local authority would be permitted to make a brief opening statement summarising their proposal.

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what  (a) meetings and  (b) discussions the Casino Advisory Panel sought with members of the Joint Scrutiny Committee on the draft Gambling Bill.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 March 2007
	None. However, a number of members of the Joint Scrutiny Committee made representations to the Casino Advisory Panel during the course of its work. Two former members of the Joint Scrutiny Committee—the hon. Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Jeff Ennis) and Lord Faulkner of Worcester—made representations in support of Blackpool's proposal.

Casino Advisory Panel

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what advice she gave to Professor Crowe and the Casino Advisory Panel on their decision not to allow hon. Members to speak at the Examinations in Public sessions in the areas bidding for a regional casino.

Tessa Jowell: The Government issued no guidance to the panel on the involvement of Members of Parliament in its work. The panel operated entirely independently of the Government and it was important that the panel was free to decide for itself who it consulted during the course of its work.
	The Examinations in Public which the panel held into the shortlisted proposals for the regional casino were just one part of this consultation process, and the panel considered carefully all the information presented to it in developing its final recommendations. A number of hon. Members made written representations, or have otherwise associated themselves with proposals from their areas, these are reflected in Annex H (pp 147-159) of the panel's report. Copies of the panel's report are available in the House Libraries.
	The panel issued guidance on the process for the Examinations in Public in advance of the hearings, which included the panel's criteria for selecting participants. The panel sought to select a range of participants representing a broad range of viewpoints, to ensure the broadest possible range of arguments would be presented and discussed during the hearings.
	No hon. Members participated personally at any of the EiPs. However, the panel chair reported any representations that had been received from local hon. Members (whether for or against the proposal) at the start of each EiP. These representations were also reflected in the summaries of representations published on the panel's website
	www.culture.gov.uk/cap.

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what evidence on the merits of doorstep and destination casinos the Casino Advisory Panel were offered; and what use of such evidence they made in their considerations.

Tessa Jowell: The chairman of the panel explained in his foreword to the panel's report to me that in the course of its work the panel received a large amount of evidence, including on issues relating to the merits of doorstep and destination casinos.
	The panel carefully considered all this evidence before finalising its recommendations to me.
	The documents submitted to the panel are listed at Annex H of the report, which is available at www.culture.gov.uk/cap. The report is also available in the House Libraries.

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions were held between her Department and the Casino Advisory Panel on the panel's refusal to allow hon. Members to give oral evidence at their Examinations in Public.

Tessa Jowell: None. The panel operated entirely independently of the Government and it was important that the panel was free to decide for itself who it consulted during the course of its work.

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what discussions were held between officials in her Department and members of the Casino Advisory Panel on the definition of social impact for the purposes of the panel's enquiry; and when such discussions took place;
	(2)  what discussions her officials held with members of the Casino Advisory Panel on how to assess willingness to license in respect of applicants in the regional casino category;
	(3)  what discussions took place between her officials and the Casino Advisory Panel to determine  (a) what tests should be applied by the panel to ascertain willingness to licence in each local authority area for regional casino applications and  (b) how such tests should be discussed consistently with each short-listed local authority at the examinations in public for the regional casino applications.

Tessa Jowell: The Casino Advisory Panel was set up to operate entirely independently of the Government. As a consequence, it would not have been appropriate for the Government to intervene in its work, or to interfere in the way in which the panel interpreted and applied its terms of reference.
	The factors which the panel took into account when assessing each of the proposals before it against its remitted criteria are set out clearly in the panel report.
	In the Government's assessment, the panel has taken its terms of reference seriously, it has applied them in a balanced and consistent way and it has tested its results back against the original terms of reference.
	The Government are satisfied that it has arrived at robust recommendations as a result.

Casino Advisory Panel

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the Casino Advisory Panel discussed the  (a) definition and  (b) merits of destination as opposed to doorstep casinos at its meeting on 24 May 2006.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 13 March 2007
	The Casino Advisory Panel did not meet on 24 May 2006. The minutes of all the panel's meetings are available on its website at:
	www.culture.gov.uk/cap.

Departments: Standards

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will include sustainability criteria in her Department's Public Service Agreement targets in the forthcoming comprehensive spending review.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 19 March 2007
	DCMS is working with HM Treasury and other Departments to develop new PSA outcomes as part of the comprehensive spending review. Cross-governmental PSAs will be published as part of the CSR. I am aware of the importance of reflecting sustainability within the relevant priority areas.

Gaming Clubs: Greater Manchester

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings have taken place between  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in her Department and (i) officers and (ii) councillors of Manchester city council since 30 January.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 12 March 2007
	There have been no meetings between officials in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport responsible for gambling policy, and officers and councillors of Manchester city council since 30 January 2007. At the request of the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Tony Lloyd), I had a brief informal meeting with the leader and chief executive of Manchester city council on 5 February 2007.

Gaming Clubs: Licensing

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings took place between  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in her Department and the Casino Advisory Panel immediately prior to the announcement of the short-list of casino licence candidates; and if she will publish the minutes of such meetings.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 12 March 2007
	No meetings took place between Ministers and officials in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Casino Advisory Panel immediately prior to the panel's announcement of the short list of casino licence candidates.
	The panel made a written progress report to me, prior to the announcement of its short list. A copy of the report is available on the panel's website at www.culture.gov.uk/cap and in the House Libraries.

Gaming Clubs: Licensing

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential for issues of competition to arise in cases of the siting of  (a) regional,  (b) large and  (c) small casinos in the same town or city as a casino licensed under the Gaming Act 1968.

Tessa Jowell: A full competition assessment of the impact of the Gambling Act 2005 on the casino market was included in Annex A of the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for the Act published on 21 April 2005. Copies of the RIA are available in the House Library.

Monuments: Agriculture

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the number of designated monuments that have been damaged by agricultural cultivation in the last 10 years.

David Lammy: My Department does not hold such information. However, English Heritage is currently undertaking a programme of regional Scheduled Monuments at Risk studies which will help to quantify the number of Scheduled Monuments under continuous or periodic cultivation, and the proportion of these considered to be at risk of damage. The outcomes of this research will be published by English Heritage later this year.

Olympic Games

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the budgeted cost is of advertising for posts for London 2012.

Tessa Jowell: From 1 April 2006 to 31 January 2007, the Olympic Delivery Authority's (ODA) total actual advertising cost, including recruitment advertising, search and selection activity, and response handling, was £769,570. The ODA is a start-up organisation and has been recruiting permanent staff from its inception.
	The London Organising Committee for the Olympic games and Paralympic games (LOCOG) is a privately funded commercial organisation and will be recruiting up to 2,500 posts between now and 2012. It is not possible at this stage to determine exactly the cost of recruitment as it will be spread over the next five years. LOCOG uses a number of resources to recruit including their website, newspaper adverts and recruitment specialists depending on the posts to be recruited.

Olympic Games: Football

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will seek discussions with  (a) the FA,  (b) the Scottish FA,  (c) the Welsh FA and  (d) the Northern Irish FA on providing a British football team for the 2012 Olympics.

Richard Caborn: Any decision on whether a Great Britain team participates at the London 2012 Olympic Games is a matter for FIFA, the four home nations' Football Associations, and the organisers of the Olympic tournament.
	The Secretary of State has discussed the issue of a Great Britain football team for the Olympics with the Football Association of England on a number of occasions.
	The Government believe that a GB Olympic football team at a 2012 London Olympics could be very exciting for football fans and discussions between the various parties continue.
	The Government also believe this should not affect the rights of the four home nations to compete separately in international football tournaments—an important part of our footballing tradition.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed in the Government Olympic Executive; what the total salary bill was in the last month for which figures are available; how many people are expected to be employed by the end of 2007; and what the projected annual salary budget is for each year until 2012.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 8 March 2007
	As of the 28 February 2007, 44 full-time equivalents, including those on contracts, work in the Government Olympic Executive (GOE), with a total salary bill of £243,579 for this month.
	By the end of 2007, the new director-general of the GOE will have been able, subject to affordability, to determine the appropriate staff numbers and associated salaries for the GOE for this and future years. The GOE works with Government Departments, agencies and other organisations to maximize the economic, social, health and environmental benefits the Games bring to the UK, and sponsors and supports the Olympic Delivery Authority, London 2012 Organising Committee, and Olympic lottery distributor.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will commission a cost benefit analysis of the Woolwich site for the standard shooting ranges for the 2012 Olympics compared with alternative sites which have existing facilities.

Richard Caborn: A number of facilities were assessed during the bid stage to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich were agreed as the venue for the shooting events after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave feedback on the venue portfolio submitted as an applicant city in 2004. The Royal Artillery Barracks are, therefore, part of the host city contract agreement with the IOC. There are currently no plans to carry out any further assessments or analysis of other shooting venues in the UK.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to move the site of the standard shooting ranges for the Olympics away from Woolwich.

Richard Caborn: The Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich were agreed as the venue for the shooting events after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave feedback to the London bid organisers on the venue portfolio submitted as an applicant city in 2004. The Royal Artillery Barracks are, therefore, part of the host city contract agreement with the IOC. There are currently no plans to move the Olympic shooting events to an alternative venue.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Children's Centres

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of children's centres provide childcare places.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 15 March 2007
	Sure Start children's centres in the 30 per cent. most disadvantaged areas in England must provide integrated early learning and daycare as part of their core services. Based on information supplied by local authorities, 1,111 (97 per cent.) of the 1,137 designated Sure Start children's centres are offering this provision either on the same site as other children's centre services or at a site close by. Children's centres outside the 30 per cent. most disadvantaged areas may choose whether to provide integrated early learning and daycare depending on levels of local need.

Children's Centres

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of children's centres are based in schools.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 15 March 2007
	Local authorities are responsible for deciding the location of children's centres, and we do not routinely collect data on the numbers based on school sites. We estimate however that, based on an analysis conducted in 2006, around a third of the 1,137 centres currently designated fall into this category.
	The proportion of children's centres based on school sites may increase as children's centres are rolled out across England and local authorities take full advantage of the opportunities for co-location and offering integrated services for children and parents from one place.

Children's Centres: Kent

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the criteria are for establishing children's centres in Kent;
	(2)  which wards in Kent  (a) have children's centres and  (b) he expects to have children's centres by 2010.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 19 March 2007
	We have issued planning guidance for all local authorities which sets out the criteria for the location of children's centres. We have asked them to ensure that these locations enable all children under five in the 30 per cent. most disadvantaged areas of England to have access to integrated services by March 2008. These areas are defined by Super Output Areas as developed by the Office for National Statistics. The exact location within these areas is determined by local authorities in consultation with local partners. When appropriate plans have been made to serve the most disadvantaged areas with children's centre services, the local authority has the flexibility to decide where to locate further centres according to the resources available.
	There are currently 18 designated Sure Start children's centres in Kent and a further 52 planned by March 2008. By 2010 every ward in Kent will be served by a children's centre as part of the Government's commitment to offer Sure Start integrated services to every community in England. A breakdown of the designated and agreed Kent children's centres by ward is as follows:
	
		
			  Name of children's centre  Name of ward 
			  (a) Current designated children's centres 
			 Ray Allen Stanhope; Washford; Park Farm North 
			 Willows Beaver; Victoria; Norman 
			 Oakfield Princes; Town 
			 Temple Hill Joyce Green; Littlebrook 
			 Aylesham Aylesham; Little Stour and Ashstone 
			 Buckland Buckland; Whitfield 
			 St. Radigunds St. Radigunds; River 
			 Tower Hamlets Tower Hamlets, Castle 
			 Riverside Canterbury Westcourt (parts of); Riverside (parts of); Central (parts of) 
			 Riverside Northgate (parts of) 
			 The Meadow Park Wood; Shepway South 
			 Hawkinge North Down East; Elham and Stelling Minnis; North Down West (parts of) 
			 The Village Folkestone East; Folkestone Foord; Park ward (parts of) 
			 Hythe Folkestone Sandgate; Hythe West; Hythe Central; Hythe East 
			 Milton Court Milton Regis; Kemsley 
			 Seashells Sheerness East; Sheerness West 
			 Millsmead Dane Valley 
			 Newlands Sir Moses Montiefiore; Eastcliffe 
			   
			  (b) Children's centres agreed up to March 2008 
			 Sherwood Sherwood; St. James 
			 Cranbrook Bendenden and Crook; Frittenden and Sissinghurst; Hawkhurst and Sandhurst 
			 East Stour South Willesborough; Aylesford Green; Highfield; North Willesborough 
			 Phoenix Bybrook; Bockhanger; Stour; Little Burton Farm; Kennington 
			 Briary Greenhill and Eddington; Herne and Broomfield 
			 Hersden Marshside; Sturry North; Little Stour; Sturry South 
			 Joy Lane Seasalter; Harbour; Gorrell (parts of) 
			 Brent Newtown; Brent (parts of) 
			 Darenth Bean and Darenth; Sutton-at-hone and Hawley 
			 Swanscombe Swanscombe; Longfield, New Barn and Southfleet 
			 Knockhall Greenhithe; Stone (part of); Castle 
			 Eythorne Elvington Eythorne and Shepherdswell; Eastry; Lydden and Temple Ewell 
			 Aycliffe Maxton, Elms Vale and Priory; Town and Pier; Capel le Ferne 
			 Lawn and The Hive/Wallis Park Northfleet North 
			 Chantry Pelham (parts of) 
			 King Farm Whitehill; Westcourt (parts of); Woodlands (parts of); Singlewell 
			 Shears Green Coldharbour; Northfleet South 
			 Southborough High Street; East ward (parts of); North ward (parts of) 
			 Greenfields South; Shepway North 
			 White Oak/The Willows Swanley White Oak; Swanley St. Mary's; Hextable 
			 Edenbridge Edenbridge North and East; Cowden and Hever; Edenbridge South andWest 
			 FEYC Park ward (parts of); Harbour; Harvey Central; Harvey West 
			 Morehall Cheriton; Morehall 
			 Dymchurch Dymchurch and St. Mary's Bay; Romney Marsh; Lympne and Stanford; Tolesford; North Downs West (parts of) 
			 St. Nicholas/Lydd New Romney Town; New Romney Coastal; Lydd 
			 Murston Murston; St. Michael's; Roman 
			 Grove Park Grove (parts of); Borden; Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch 
			 Homewood Chalkwell; Grove (parts of); Woodstock 
			 St. Mary of Charity Abbey; Davington Priory; Watting (parts of) 
			 Bysing Wood Watling (part of); St Anne's; Teynham and Lynsted; East Downs 
			 East Sheppey/Leysdown and Warden Leysdown and Warden; Sheppey Central (parts of) 
			 Minster-in-Sheppey Minster Cliffs; Sheppey Central (parts of) 
			 Margate Westbroom; Margate Central; Salmestone 
			 Birchington Birchington South; Birchington North; Thanet Villages 
			 Newington Newington; Northwood 
			 Longmead Trench; Cage Green; Castle; Higham 
			 St. Stephens Medway; Vauxhall; Judd 
			 Snodland Snodland East; Snodland West; Larkfield North 
			 St. James the Great East Malling; Ditton; Aylesford 
			 Callis Grange Beacon Road; Kingsgate; Bradstow; St. Peter's

Day Care: Disabled

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding his Department makes available to assist parents with the cost of child care for children with physical disabilities.

Beverley Hughes: Parents with disabled children can receive support through the working tax credit (which includes elements relating to disability and severe disability), child tax credit, disability living allowance and carer's allowance. They can also apply for direct payments from their local authority, which are cash payments in lieu of social care services enabling those receiving them to arrange their own services.
	In addition, the Department for Education and Skills provides funding to local authorities through the general Sure Start grant to increase the sustainability and diversity of their local child care market, in support of the new duty in the Childcare Act 2006 to secure sufficient child care provision. This funding can be used to provide support for child care places where affordability is an issue for parents, and can also be used to provide training, enable early education and child care settings to make adaptations to premises and equipment, provide additional staff, and support multi-agency working through the early support programme.

Nursery Schools: Westminster

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) three and  (b) four-year-olds are attending (i) nursery schools and (ii) classes in Westminster; and how many were attending in 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The requested information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained nursery and primary schools: number (headcount) of pupils aged 3 and 4( 1 ) Position in January each year: 1997 and 2006( ) Westminster local authority area 
			   Maintained nursery schools  Maintained primary schools 
			   Pupils across all classes  Pupils in designated nursery classes  Pupils across all classes( 2) 
			  Aged 3(3) Aged 4(4) Aged 3(3) Aged 4(4) Aged 3(3) Aged 4(4) 
			 1997 128 64 599 498 599 1,031 
			 2006 187 48 794 342 796 1,306 
			 (1 )Excludes dually registered pupils. (2 )Includes pupils in designated nursery classes. (3 )Excludes rising fours. Includes pupils aged less than three. (4 )Excludes rising fives.  Source:  School Census

Parents: Incapacity Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils whose parents were claiming incapacity benefit achieved  (a) more than five A* to C passes including English and mathematics,  (b) more than five A* to C passes,  (c) more than five A* to G passes and  (d) no passes at Key Stage 4 in (i) the Birkenhead constituency, (ii) the Wirral local education authority and (iii) England in 2006.

Jim Knight: holding answer 15 March 2007
	Data on whether pupils' parents claim incapacity benefit is not collected centrally.

Pupils: Attendance

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many parents received custodial sentences for failing to make their children attend school in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: holding answer 15 March 2007
	Home Office data, from the court proceedings database, show the number of defendants sentenced to immediate custody for offences under section 444 of the Education Act 1996 is as follows: 20 in 2005; 22 in 2004; and, seven in 2003. Data for 2006 are not available at this time.

Schools: Admissions

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether under the school admissions code of practice local authorities can give precedence in the waiting list to pupils who have not been allocated a place at a ranked school over those who have been allocated a place at one of their ranked schools.

Jim Knight: Where a school maintains a waiting list, a child's position on that list can be determined only by how well he or she meets the school's published oversubscription criteria compared to others on the list. Any other information, such as other parental preferences, may not be taken in to account. The new school admissions code also states that a child cannot be given priority on a waiting list based on the date that his or her application was received or his or her name was added to the list.
	The only children who may be given precedence over those on a waiting list are those who are the subject of a direction by the local authority to admit or those admitted in accordance with an in-year fair access protocol.

Volunteering: Young People

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the steps being taken to meet the recommendations of the Russell Commission on Youth Volunteering.

Edward Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	Considerable progress has been made over the past year since the launch of the Russell Commission Implementation Body, v, which has created over 80,000 volunteering opportunities and attracted pledges of over £20 million of match funding for the private sector in addition to the up to £100 million available from Government.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued by courts in  (a) Hertfordshire and  (b) Hemel Hempstead constituency in each quarter since the penalty was introduced; and what percentage of these were issued where the claimant was aged (i) 10 to 14 years, (ii) 15 to 19 years, (iii) 20 to 24 years, (iv) 25 to 29 years and (v) 30 years and over.

Tony McNulty: Available information for Hertfordshire criminal justice system area is in the table, but ASBO data are not available at parliamentary constituency level.
	
		
			  The number of antisocial behaviour orders issued at all courts in the Hertfordshire criminal justice system area, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, by age group and by quarter, 1 June 2000( 1)  to 31 December 2005 (latest available) 
			Age 
			  Period   10-14  15-19  20-24  25-29  30 and over  Not known  Total 
			 October to December 2000 Number — 1 — — — — 1 
			  Percentage — 100 — — — — 100 
			 January to March 2001 Number — 2 2 — — — 4 
			  Percentage — 50 50 — — — 100 
			 April to June 2001 Number — 1 — — — — 1 
			  Percentage — 100 — — — — 100 
			 July to September 2001 Number — 2 — — — — 2 
			  Percentage — 100 — — — — 100 
			 October to December 2001 Number 2 — — — — — 2 
			  Percentage 100 — — — — — 100 
			 January to March 2002 Number — 1 — — — — 1 
			  Percentage — 100 — — — — 100 
			 April to June 2002 Number — 1 — — — — 1 
			  Percentage — 100 — — — — 100 
			 July to September 2002 Number 1 1 — — — — 2 
			  Percentage 50 50 — — — — 100 
			 October to December 2002 Number — 2 — — — — 2 
			  Percentage — 100 — — — — 100 
			 January to March 2003 Number — 5 — — 2 — 7 
			  Percentage — 71 — — 29 — 100 
			 April to June 2003 Number — — 1 — — — 1 
			  Percentage — — 100 — — — 100 
			 July to September 2003 Number — 1 — — — — 1 
			  Percentage — 100 — — — — 100 
			 October to December 2003 Number — 7 1 — — — 8 
			  Percentage — 88 12 — — — 100 
			 January to March 2004 Number 2 7 1 1 2 — 13 
			  Percentage 15 54 8 8 15 — 100 
			 April to June 2004 Number — 8 1 1 1 — 11 
			  Percentage — 73 9 9 9 — 100 
			 July to September 2004 Number 1 3 2 2 4 — 12 
			  Percentage 8 25 17 17 33 — 100 
			 October to December 2004 Number — 2 — 1 1 — 4 
			  Percentage — 50 — 25 25 — 100 
			 January to March 2005 Number 2 5 6 1 4 3 21 
			  Percentage 10 24 29 5 19 14 100 
			 April to June 2005 Number 1 3 6 — 7 — 17 
			  Percentage 6 18 35 — 41 — 100 
			 July to September 2005 Number 2 12 2 1 2 1 20 
			  Percentage 10 60 10 5 10 5 100 
			 October to December 2005 Number — 5 — 1 6 2 14 
			  Percentage — 36 — 7 43 14 100 
			 Total  11 69 22 8 29 6 145 
			 Percentage  8 48 15 6 20 4 100 
			 (1) From commencement 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area (pfa). During this period one ASBO was issued in the Hertfordshire pfa.  Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Drugs: Smuggling

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the performance of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in detecting drugs trafficking since 1 April 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: As published in the 2006-07 Annual Plan, the SOCA Board determined that SOCA should devote 40 per cent. of its effort against the threat posed by drugs trafficking.
	As required by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, SOCA will issue an annual report as soon as possible after the end of the financial year 2006-07. This report will include an assessment of the extent to which the annual plan for that year has been carried out.

Drugs: Smuggling

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what quantities of  (a) heroin,  (b) cocaine,  (c) ecstasy and  (d) cannabis were seized as a result of HM Revenue and Customs operations in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	Quantities of drugs seizures made by HM Revenue and Customs are published in the Annual Report of HM Revenue and Customs. The last three years' seizures by weight, as published in those reports, are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  kilograms 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Heroin 1,626 1,613 1,057 
			 Cocaine 20,727 8,606 5,798 
			 Ecstasy 1,245 740 468 
			 Cannabis 57,617 57,504 41,611

Firearms

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1928W, on firearms, if he will place in the Library the advice provided by the Forensic Science Service.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 14 March 2007
	Advice provided by the Forensic Science Service relating to firearms surrendered during the amnesty in 2003 was on a case-by-case basis direct to the police force concerned.

Holloway Prison

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 108W, on Holloway prison, which games and videos are available for use.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Prisoners at Holloway have access to a range of films and DVDs. The prison has a central library of videos and DVDs which are vetted for suitability by the prison librarian. From this small library a number of films are provided to the first night centre for use by new prisoners.
	Additionally, women on the enhanced level of the incentives and earned privileges scheme are entitled to receive up to 10 DVDs and six computer games through the post. These games and DVDs must be originals, must arrive at the prison sealed, and are vetted for suitability by prisoner reception staff. Unsuitable games and DVDs are placed in the prisoner's stored property and she is advised in writing that the game or DVD will not be issued as it has been deemed unsuitable. The prisoner may appeal this decision to the Governor should she disagree.

Identity Cards

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the most recent timetable is for introducing compulsory identity cards.

Joan Ryan: We will start issuing biometric immigration documents from 2008 and identity cards to British citizens from 2009. It is the Government's policy that ID cards should eventually be compulsory for everyone resident in the United Kingdom who is aged 16 or over.
	Under the Identity Cards Act 2006 registration on the National Identity Register and the issue of ID cards will be linked to applications for British passports and biometric immigration documents for foreign nationals, subject to approval by Parliament of a designation order under section 4 of the Identity Cards Act. As a result, ID cards will be issued to a large proportion of the resident population as they apply for or renew one of these documents. Passport applicants may opt out of obtaining an ID card before 1 January 2010.
	The UK Borders Bill currently before Parliament provides powers to require specified categories of foreign nationals to apply for a biometric immigration document. At some time in the future, further primary legislation will be introduced to provide the powers to require the remainder of the population to obtain an ID card and so to make ID cards compulsory.

Identity Cards

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) personal data and  (b) biometric data he plans identity cards will hold.

Joan Ryan: It is intended that the identity card for British citizens will be valid as a travel document within the European economic area. As a result, like the passport, it will need to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements regarding information to be recorded on travel documents.
	Hence, the biographical information to be recorded on the identity card will closely match that currently recorded on the personal details page of the passport.
	With regard to biometric information, it is intended that the biometrics to be recorded on the identity card will be a subset of those to be recorded on the National Identity Register and will be in line with international requirements. This biometric information would be recorded securely on the card's chip and protected by encryption.

Identity Cards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to bring forward legislation to make identity cards compulsory.

Joan Ryan: We will start issuing biometric immigration documents from 2008 and identity cards to British citizens from 2009. It is the Government's policy that ID cards should eventually be compulsory for everyone resident in the United Kingdom who is aged 16 or over.
	Under the Identity Cards Act 2006 registration on the National Identity Register and the issued ID cards will be linked to applications for British passports and biometric immigration documents for foreign nationals, subject to approval by Parliament of a designation order under section four of the Identity Cards Act. As a result ID cards will be issued to a large proportion of the resident population as they apply for or renew one of these documents. Passport applicants may opt out of obtaining an ID card before 1 January 2010.
	The UK Borders Bill currently before Parliament provides powers to require specified categories of foreign nationals to apply for a biometric immigration document. At some time in the future, further primary legislation will be introduced to provide the powers to require the remainder of the population to obtain an ID card and so to make ID cards compulsory.

Identity Cards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2007,  Official Report, column 519W, on identity cards, what estimate he has made of the number of officials in the Identity and Passport Service who will administer the civil penalty scheme.

Joan Ryan: At present, the number of officials planned to work on the administration of the civil penalty scheme has not been finalised.

National Identity Register

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether data held on the National Identity Register will be cross-checked with the electoral register.

Joan Ryan: The Identity and Passport Service uses the services of a credit reference agency to verify identity information provided with passport applications and plans to build on these services when the National Identity Register is introduced. One of the sources of data used by the credit reference agency is the electoral register.
	The Government set out the role of the National Identity Register and the Identity Cards Scheme in relation to electoral registration and voting in its evidence to the House of Commons Constitutional Affairs and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committees published by the Committees on 16 March 2005.

National Identity Register: Personal Records

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  which data fields he plans to be held on each individual entered in the National Identity Register;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the total number of data fields to be held on each individual entered in the National Identity Register;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of individual data entries to be held on the National Identity Register in each of the first five years of operation.

Joan Ryan: The information that can be held on the National Identity Register is strictly limited in the Identity Cards Act 2006 and is outlined under section 3 and schedule 1 of that Act.
	Details of the IT architecture which will support the recording of that information on the register will be dependent on the design that is agreed with any future suppliers and other parties involved in developing the technical systems that host it.
	Thus, until procurement processes are completed and further work is conducted, the number of data fields recording National Identity Register information will not be finalised.

Offensive Weapons

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often the Round Table on guns, knives and gangs has met in the last two years; on what dates it met; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 14 March 2007
	Since December 2004, the Round Table on guns, knives and gangs has met four times: on 15 December 2004, 7 March 2006, 7 February 2007 and 6 March 2007.

Passports

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1515W, on passports, which fictional passports have been issued.

John Reid: Available IPS records confirm that the following fictional passports have been issued:
	
		
			  Character  Production  Date 
			 Thomas Sweeney Brookside June 2000 
			 Columbus Bear When You Wish Upon a Star July 2000 
			 Diane Begley Blue Murder February 2004 
			 James Bond Casino Royale February 2006

Passports

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1514W, on passports, whether there is a separate service level agreement for the Passport Validation Service.

John Reid: As stated on 1 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1514W, updated key performance indicators for the Identity and Passport Service will be published later in the spring. A number of these will specifically relate to the Passport Validation Service.
	The Passport Validation Service also enters into contractual agreements with user organisations which specify the terms under which the Passport Validation Service is delivered to them.

Police Custody

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were held in police cells during the recent activation of Operation Safeguard; and how many were  (a) remand prisoners,  (b) male remand prisoners,  (c) prisoners given custodial sentences and  (d) male prisoners given custodial sentences.

John Reid: Between 12 October and 22 December 2006 Operation Safeguard was used on 4,617 occasions. This does not correspond precisely to the number of prisoners: one occasion means one prisoner night in a police cell.
	A breakdown of numbers of remand prisoners and prisoners given custodial sentences held in police cells is not held centrally. No women prisoners have been held in police cells.

Police Custody: Manpower

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether recommendations were made by his Department to  (a) any chief constable and  (b) ACPO on prisoner-to-police officer ratio during the recent activation of Operation Safeguard.

John Reid: The staffing levels in custody suites being used under Operation Safeguard are determined by individual chief constables based on operational knowledge and experience. Each site is fully risk assessed and resourced accordingly.

Police: Cadets

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding his Department has provided to police authorities in respect of police cadets in the latest period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: Government funding for police authorities is chiefly allocated using a funding formula that provides an assessment of the relative need of each police force in England and Wales.
	Funding for police cadets is not separately identified. Decisions on the distribution of resources are matters for the chief officer and the police authority.

Police: Disciplinary Proceedings

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in England and Wales are suspended by police authorities; and what the total value is of their annual salaries.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally by the Home Office and is a matter for each force.

Police: Discrimination

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints of  (a) racism,  (b) gender discrimination and  (c) discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation were made by (i) police officers, (ii) police community support officers and (iii) special constables against the police in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office does not hold a central record of the number of complaints of racism, gender discrimination and discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation made by police officers, police community support officers and special constables against the police. These are matters for the grievance procedure of each force.

Police: ICT

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many information communication technology systems are being used by police forces in England and Wales, broken down by force.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 15 March 2007
	The day-to-day operational management of a force and therefore the systems used to support it are the responsibility of the force chief constable and their police authority.

Police: Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given to police chief constables on the  (a) design,  (b) maintenance and  (c) availability of information held on their websites.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 14 March 2007
	These decisions are for chief constables who are responsible for the day-to-day operational management of their force.

Police: Sirens

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what guidance is given to police car drivers on the use of their sirens at night-time; and whether the guidance  (a) is kept under review and  (b) has been amended in the past two years;
	(2)  what monitoring is undertaken of the adherence of police car drivers to guidance on the use of their sirens at night-time.

Tony McNulty: Regulation 37 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 restricts the fitting of sirens and other devices to specific emergency vehicles. Regulation 99 allows use of a siren only to indicate to other road users the urgency of the purposes for which a vehicle is being used, or to warn other road users of the presence of the vehicle on the road.
	Subject to compliance with construction and use regulations, the use of sirens is according to police discretion. It is for individual chief officers to decide on whether to issue local guidance and on monitoring of adherence to such guidance.

Prison Service: Manpower

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers were employed  (a) in total and  (b) full-time (i) as at 31 March in each year since 1997 and (ii) on 31 January 2007.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on the number of officer grade staff employed within the public sector Prison Service and the contracted estate each year since 1997 is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of officer grade staff employed within the public sector Prison Service and the contracted estate each year since 1997 
			  Date  Total  Full-time equivalent 
			 31 March 1997 23,058 — 
			 31 March 1998 23,602 — 
			 31 March 1999 24,113 — 
			 31 March 2000 24,346 24,272 
			 31 March 2001 24,023 23,913 
			 31 March 2002 23,681 23,505 
			 31 March 2003 24,527 24,272 
			 31 March 2004 25,461 25,168 
			 31 March 2005 26,246 25,870 
			 31 March 2006 26,747 26,333 
			 31 January 2007 26,941 26,475 
			  Notes: 1. Figures include both publicly and privately managed establishments. 2. Full-time equivalent figures are not available prior to 2000. 3. Figures relate to prison officers, senior officers and principal officers within the public sector Prison Service and prison custody officers within contacted prisons. 4. Officers employed within public sector Prison Service headquarters are included. 5. Private contractors have not been able to supply information for; Ashfield and Doncaster prior to 2002, Dovegate in 2004, 2002 and 2001, Forest Bank, Altcourse, Rye Hill and Wolds prior to 2004 and Lowdham Grange in 2005, 2004 and prior to 2002.

Prisoners

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in the prison population was in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The numbers of prisoners held in all prison establishments in England and Wales in each year since 1997 with the percentage annual increase can be seen in the table.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
	
		
			  Prison population in England and Wales 1997-2005, with percentage annual (as at 30 June each year) 
			   Total prison population  Percentage increase since previous year 
			 1997 61,467 — 
			 1998 65,727 6.90 
			 1999 64,529 -1.80 
			 2000 65,194 1.00 
			 2001 66,403 1.90 
			 2002 71,218 7.30 
			 2003 73,657 3.40 
			 2004 74,488 1.10 
			 2005 76,190 2.30 
			 2006 77,982 2.40 
			  Source: Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2005, table 8.1 at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb1806section8.xls

Prisoners: Civil Proceedings

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information his Department collects about civil claims made by  (a) current and  (b) former prisoners against the prison service.

John Reid: The Prison Service currently collates sufficient information to monitor the progress of civil claims brought against it. The majority of that information is legally privileged and cannot be disclosed.

Prisoners: Elderly

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) male and  (b) female prisoners are aged (i) 60 to 64 and (ii) over 65 years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 9 March 2007
	The figures requested in the question for all prison establishments in England and Wales as at the end of January 2007 are in the following table:
	
		
			  Age band  Male  Female  Total 
			 60-64 1,011 33 1,044 
			 65 and over 1,020 16 1,036 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisons: Islam

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid from public funds to prison imams in each year since 2001.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 19 March 2007
	Imams are employed both on a full-time and sessional basis. Payments being made are from both the overall chaplaincy budget and sessional budgets held by Governors at establishments. Therefore the information requested is not held centrally or is readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Islam

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons  (a) employed and  (b) used an imam in each year since 2001.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 19 March 2007
	The prisons recorded as having a directly employed Muslim chaplain on 31 March each year since 2002 are shown in the following list. All establishments (unless the post is vacant) have one or more Muslim chaplain either employed or fee paid. Muslim chaplains have been coming in to prisons for many years on a fee paid basis. Central records are not maintained of how often these services are used.
	 Establishments directly employing Muslim chaplains by date
	 31 March 2002
	Altcourse
	Brixton
	Doncaster
	Dovegate
	Feltham
	Forest Bank
	Lowdham Grange
	Rye Hill
	Wolds
	 31 March 2003
	Altcourse
	Brixton
	Buckley Hall
	Channings Wood(1)
	Doncaster
	Dovegate
	Feltham
	Forest Bank
	Lowdham Grange
	Portland(1)
	Rye Hill
	The Verne(1)
	Wandsworth
	Wolds
	 31 March 2004
	Altcourse
	Bedford
	Belmarsh
	Birmingham
	Bronzefield
	Buckley Hall
	Channings Wood(1)
	Doncaster
	Dovegate
	Dover
	Feltham
	Forest Bank
	Lowdham Grange
	Manchester
	Pentonville
	Portland(1)
	Risley
	Rye Hill
	The Mount
	The Verne(1)
	Wandsworth
	Whitemoor
	Wolds
	 31 March 2005
	Altcourse
	Bedford
	Belmarsh
	Birmingham
	Blakenhurst
	Bronzefield
	Buckley Hall
	Bullingdon
	Channings Wood(1)
	Coldingley
	Doncaster
	Dovegate
	Dover
	Featherstone
	Feltham
	Forest Bank
	Highpoint
	Lowdham Grange
	Manchester
	Pentonville
	Peterborough
	Portland(1)
	Reading
	Risley
	Rye Hill
	Swaleside
	Swinfen Hall
	The Mount
	The Verne(1)
	Wandsworth
	Wolds
	Woodhill
	 31 March 2006
	Altcourse
	Bedford
	Belmarsh
	Birmingham
	Blakenhurst
	Brixton
	Bronzefield
	Buckley Hall
	Bullingdon
	Channings Wood(1)
	Coldingley
	Doncaster
	Dovegate
	Dover
	Elmley(1)
	Featherstone
	Feltham
	Forest Bank
	Frankland
	Highpoint
	Leicester
	Lincoln
	Lowdham Grange
	Manchester
	Moorland
	Pentonville
	Peterborough
	Portland(1)
	Reading
	Risley
	Rye Hill
	Standford Hill(1)
	Swaleside
	Swinfen Hall
	The Mount
	The Verne(1)
	Whitemoor
	Wolds
	Woodhill
	 28 February 2007
	Altcourse
	Aylesbury
	Bedford
	Belmarsh
	Birmingham
	Blakenhurst
	Brixton
	Bronzefield
	Buckley Hall
	Bullingdon
	Cardiff
	Channings Wood(1)
	Coldingley
	Doncaster
	Dovegate
	Dover
	Elmley(1)
	Featherstone
	Feltham
	Forest Bank
	Frankland
	Full Sutton
	Highpoint
	Hindley
	Leicester
	Lincoln
	Lindholme
	Liverpool
	Lowdham Grange
	Manchester
	Moorland
	Nottingham
	Pentonville
	Peterborough
	Portland(1)
	Reading
	Risley
	Rye Hill
	Standford Hill(1)
	Swaleside
	Swifen Hall
	The Mount
	The Verne(1)
	Thorn Cross
	Wakefield
	Wandsworth
	Whitemoor
	Wolds
	Woodhill
	Wormwood Scrubs
	(1) Muslim chaplain covers more than one establishment.

Public Order Offences

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the use of penalty notices for disorder.

Vernon Coaker: The Government are reviewing the list of offences for which a penalty notice for disorder may be issued. No decision has yet been made on whether and, if so, how to extend the scheme.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Surveys

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to publish the results of the poll commissioned by the board of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency of staff views.

Vernon Coaker: No. The results of the staff survey are being discussed and will then be circulated internally to SOCA staff.
	SOCA values the staff survey as an opportunity to receive honest views on corporate issues. It is completed on the basis that results will not be made public. Publication could undermine the confidence necessary for it to be an effective tool for the organisation, which is still at an early stage of its development.

Theft: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were cautioned for shoplifting in Lancashire in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The number of offenders cautioned for stealing from shops and stalls (shoplifting) in the Lancashire police force area from 2001 to 2005 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of offenders cautioned for stealing from shops and stalls (shoplifting) in the Lancashire police force area, 2001 to 2005( 1,2) 
			  Statute  Offence  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Theft Act 1968 Sec 1. Stealing from shops and stalls (shoplifting) 1,143 886 975 1,152 801 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Young Offenders

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug rehabilitation requirement orders were  (a) issued to and  (b) breached by young offenders aged 18 years and under in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Drug rehabilitation requirements were introduced under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which came into effect on 4 April 2005. They can be made under community orders or suspended sentence orders and apply only to offenders aged 18 and over. Between April and December 2005, 140 drug rehabilitation requirements were made by the courts for offenders aged 18 who commenced probation service supervision. In this same period some 30 drug rehabilitation requirements were terminated early by 18-year-olds either for failure to comply with requirements or for further offence convictions. The equivalent figures for the period January to September 2006 were 160 for both commencements and terminations(1).
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and the totals have been rounded.
	(1 )The 160 early terminations in 2006 include drug rehabilitation requirements commencing in both 2005 and 2006.

Young Offenders: Community Service Orders

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community rehabilitation orders were  (a) issued to and  (b) breached by young offenders aged 18 years or under in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: For sentencing purposes juveniles are defined as being aged 17 and under. Eighteen-year-olds are treated as adults. This response therefore is confined to young offenders aged 10-17 in the interest of clarity.
	Statistics on sentencing of young offenders (persons aged 10-17) are published in "Sentencing Statistics 2005" (Home Office Statistical Bulletin No. 03/07), a copy of which is in the Library.
	Table 3.7 on page 70 includes numbers of community rehabilitation orders made.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
	The bulletin referred to is also available on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb0307.pdf
	Quality checks have shown that breach data are unsuitable for publication. Statistics on breaches can therefore only be published when significant improvements have been made to the submissions of these data to the Home Office.
	
		
			  Table 3.7: Persons sentenced to community sentences by age group, sex and type of sentence, 1995-2005—England and Wales 
			  Number of persons 
			   Community sentences 
			   Community rehabilitation order( 1)  Supervision order  Community punishment order( 1)  Attendance centre order  Community punishment and rehabilitation order( 1)  Curfew order  Reparation order 
			  Males
			  Aged 10-17
			 1995 1,900 8,929 3,261 6,212 905 * * 
			 1996 2,181 9,536 3,503 6,162 1,254 13 * 
			 1997 2,331 9,669 3,762 6,313 1,510 34 * 
			 1998 2,621 10,573 3,894 6,731 1,677 144 * 
			 1999 2,674 10,734 4,340 7,250 1,780 298 * 
			 2000 2,044 9,711 4,495 5,828 1,819 393 3,382 
			 2001 2,075 9,330 4,050 4,787 1,658 1,189 6,746 
			 2002 1,981 8,910 3,156 3,265 1,556 2,184 4,256 
			 2003 1,902 8,240 2,642 2,560 1,402 2,651 2,662 
			 2004 1,817 8,391 2,466 2,561 1,226 3,624 2,633 
			 2005 1,564 8,719 2,305 2,555 1,154 3,622 2,710 
			 
			  Aged 18-20
			 1995 8,142 * 8,779 808 3,045 * * 
			 1996 7,715 * 8,365 799 3,497 32 * 
			 1997 7,757 * 8,299 742 3,847 69 * 
			 1998 8,220 * 9,258 726 4,345 181 * 
			 1999 8,420 * 9,674 766 4,387 310 * 
			 2000 8,107 * 9,725 631 4,061 548 * 
			 2001 8,587 * 9,840 577 3,050 656 * 
			 2002 8,569 * 9,854 459 3,252 913 * 
			 2003 7,851 * 9,913 506 3,297 1,447 * 
			 2004 6,943 * 10,280 614 3,749 2,204 * 
			 2005 3,699 * 6,170 461 2,335 1,516 * 
			 
			  Aged 21 and over
			 1995 30,731 * 32,720 * 9,447 * * 
			 1996 31,470 * 30,346 * 11,064 108 * 
			 1997 33,452 * 30,864 * 12,274 287 * 
			 1998 35,514 * 30,856 * 13,072 524 * 
			 1999 35,044 * 30,535 * 12,466 786 * 
			 2000 34,120 * 30,297 * 11,420 1,384 * 
			 2001 36,263 * 30,162 * 8,491 1,622 * 
			 2002 40,259 * 32,069 * 9,179 2,557 * 
			 2003 41,501 * 32,238 * 9,113 4,387 * 
			 2004 40,554 * 34,831 * 9,665 7,431 * 
			 2005 22,009 * 21,651 * 6,333 5,283 * 
			 
			  All ages
			 1995 40,773 8,929 44,760 7,020 13,397 * * 
			 1996 41,366 9,536 42,214 6,961 15,815 153 * 
			 1997 43,540 9,669 42,925 7,055 17,631 390 * 
			 1998 46,355 10,573 44,008 7,457 19,094 849 * 
			 1999 46,138 10,734 44,549 8,016 18,633 1,394 * 
			 2000 44,271 9,711 44,517 6,459 17,300 2,325 3,382 
			 2001 46,925 9,330 44,052 5,364 13,199 3,467 6,746 
			 2002 50,809 8,910 45,079 3,724 13,987 5,654 4,256 
			 2003 51,254 8,240 44,793 3,066 13,812 8,485 2,662 
			 2004 49,314 8,391 47,577 3,175 14,640 13,259 2,633 
			 2005 27,272 8,719 30,126 3,016 9,822 10,421 2,710 
			 
			  Females
			  Aged 10-17
			 1995 255 1,214 167 447 48 * * 
			 1996 351 1,380 216 469 58 — * 
			 1997 395 1,580 257 549 127 3 * 
			 1998 463 1,861 255 573 138 11 * 
			 1999 506 1,945 330 623 121 22 * 
			 2000 397 1,845 335 552 162 47 602 
			 2001 411 1,753 263 418 130 105 1,229 
			 2002 344 1,592 175 286 107 169 748 
			 2003 329 1,630 128 197 107 289 449 
			 2004 304 1,728 120 220 90 426 454 
			 2005 272 1,881 140 252 80 519 507 
			 
			  Aged 18-20
			 1995 1,368 * 528 18 200 * * 
			 1996 1,505 * 553 31 254 1 * 
			 1997 1,695 * 639 36 308 3 * 
			 1998 1,956 * 697 35 406 15 * 
			 1999 2,075 * 824 40 402 36 * 
			 2000 2,089 * 843 30 374 52 * 
			 2001 1,962 * 853 42 239 63 * 
			 2002 1,969 * 823 21 264 88 * 
			 2003 1,597 * 867 20 241 143 * 
			 2004 1,528 * 1,007 37 258 222 * 
			 2005 798 * 662 37 187 163 * 
			 
			  Aged 21 and over
			 1995 7,002 * 2,882 * 914 * * 
			 1996 7,679 * 2,912 * 1,173 10 * 
			 1997 8,462 * 3,302 * 1,394 30 * 
			 1998 9,387 * 3,606 * 1,545 104 * 
			 1999 9,649 * 3,894 * 1,577 125 * 
			 2000 9,702 * 4,288 * 1,405 173 * 
			 2001 9,649 * 4,596 * 1,094 228 * 
			 2002 10,659 * 4,714 * 1,126 355 * 
			 2003 10,022 * 4,594 * 999 682 * 
			 2004 9,515 * 5,182 * 984 1,235 * 
			 2005 5,241 * 3,880 * 723 1,026 * 
			 
			  All ages
			 1995 8,625 1,214 3,577 465 1,162 * * 
			 1996 9,535 1,380 3,681 500 1,485 11 * 
			 1997 10,552 1,580 4,198 585 1,829 36 * 
			 1998 11,806 1,861 4,558 608 2,089 130 * 
			 1999 12,230 1,945 5,048 663 2,100 183 * 
			 2000 12,188 1,845 5,466 582 1,941 272 602 
			 2001 12,022 1,753 5,712 460 1,463 396 1,229 
			 2002 12,972 1,592 5,712 307 1,497 612 748 
			 2003 11,948 1,630 5,589 217 1,347 1,114 449 
			 2004 11,347 1,728 6,309 257 1,332 1,883 454 
			 2005 6,311 1,881 4,682 289 990 1,708 507 
			 
			  All persons
			  Aged 10-17
			 1995 2,155 10,143 3,428 6,659 953 * * 
			 1996 2,532 10,916 3,719 6,631 1,312 13 * 
			 1997 2,726 11,249 4,019 6,862 1,637 37 * 
			 1998 3,084 12,434 4,149 7,304 1,815 155 * 
			 1999 3,180 12,679 4,670 7,873 1,901 320 * 
			 2000 2,441 11,556 4,830 6,380 1,981 440 3,984 
			 2001 2,486 11,083 4,313 5,205 1,788 1,294 7,975 
			 2002 2,325 10,502 3,331 3,551 1,663 2,353 5,004 
			 2003 2,231 9,870 2,770 2,757 1,509 2,940 3,111 
			 2004 2,121 10,119 2,586 2,781 1,316 4,050 3,087 
			 2005 1,836 10,600 2,445 2,807 1,234 4,141 3,217 
			 
			  Aged 18-20
			 1995 9,510 * 9,307 826 3,245 * * 
			 1996 9,220 * 8,918 830 3,751 33 * 
			 1997 9,452 * 8,938 778 4,155 72 * 
			 1998 10,176 * 9,955 761 4,751 196 * 
			 1999 10,495 * 10,498 806 4,789 346 * 
			 2000 10,196 * 10,568 661 4,435 600 * 
			 2001 10,549 * 10,693 619 3,289 719 * 
			 2002 10,538 * 10,677 480 3,516 1,001 * 
			 2003 9,448 * 10,780 526 3,538 1,590 * 
			 2004 8,471 * 11,287 651 4,007 2,426 * 
			 2005 4,497 * 6,832 498 2,522 1,679 * 
			 
			  Aged 21 and over
			 1995 37,733 * 35,602 * 10,361 * * 
			 1996 39,149 * 33,258 * 12,237 118 * 
			 1997 41,914 * 34,166 * 13,668 317 * 
			 1998 44,901 * 34,462 * 14,617 628 * 
			 1999 44,693 * 34,429 * 14,043 911 * 
			 2000 43,822 * 34,585 * 12,825 1,557 * 
			 2001 45,912 * 34,758 * 9,585 1,850 * 
			 2002 50,918 * 36,783 * 10,305 2,912 * 
			 2003 51,523 * 36,832 * 10,112 5,069 * 
			 2004 50,069 * 40,013 * 10,649 8,666 * 
			 2005 27,250 * 25,531 * 7,056 6,309 * 
			 
			  All ages
			 1995 49,398 10,143 48,337 7,485 14,559 * * 
			 1996 50,901 10,916 45,895 7,461 17,300 164 * 
			 1997 54,092 11,249 47,123 7,640 19,460 426 * 
			 1998 58,161 12,434 48,566 8,065 21,183 979 * 
			 1999 58,368 12,679 49,597 8,679 20,733 1,577 * 
			 2000 56,459 11,556 49,983 7,041 19,241 2,597 3,984 
			 2001 58,947 11,083 49,764 5,824 14,662 3,863 7,975 
			 2002 63,781 10,502 50,791 4,031 15,484 6,266 5,004 
			 2003 63,202 9,870 50,382 3,283 15,159 9,599 3,111 
			 2004 60,661 10,119 53,886 3,432 15,972 15,142 3,087 
			 2005 33,583 10,600 34,808 3,305 10,812 12,129 3,217 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of persons 
			   Community sentences  
			   Action plan order  Drug treatment and testing order  Referral order( 2)  Community order( 3)  Total community sentences  Total persons sentenced 
			  Males   
			  Aged 10-17   
			 1995 * * * * 21,207 60,606 
			 1996 * * * * 22,649 66,433 
			 1997 * * * * 23,619 69,647 
			 1998 * * * * 25,640 75,496 
			 1999 * * * * 27,076 79,262 
			 2000 3,678 3 * * 31,353 80,570 
			 2001 7,229 53 * * 37,117 84,087 
			 2002 5,243 61 16,065 * 46,677 83,186 
			 2003 3,703 55 21,158 * 46,975 80,838 
			 2004 3,753 43 22,469 * 48,983 83,413 
			 2005 3,989 32 24,355 * 51,005 82,465 
			
			  Aged 18-20   
			 1995 * * * * 20,774 131,349 
			 1996 * * * * 20,408 134,556 
			 1997 * * * * 20,714 139,129 
			 1998 * * * * 22,730 147,868 
			 1999 * * * * 23,557 147,003 
			 2000 * 29 * * 23,101 142,824 
			 2001 * 405 * * 23,115 139,919 
			 2002 * 396 * * 23,443 140,914 
			 2003 * 436 41 * 23,491 143,365 
			 2004 * 457 13 * 24,260 137,732 
			 2005 * 219 * 9,276 23,676 127,302 
			
			  Aged 21 and over   
			 1995 * * * * 72,898 933,034 
			 1996 * * * * 72,988 963,418 
			 1997 * * * * 76,877 947,616 
			 1998 * * * * 79,966 997,918 
			 1999 * * * * 78,831 951,514 
			 2000 * 238 * * 77,459 934,704 
			 2001 * 3,108 * * 79,646 877,019 
			 2002 * 3,898 * * 87,962 927,809 
			 2003 * 5,330 101 * 92,670 994,992 
			 2004 * 6,436 6 * 98,923 1,036,196 
			 2005 * 4,243 * 38,659 98,178 980,894 
			
			  All ages   
			 1995 * * * * 114,879 1,124,989 
			 1996 * * * * 116,045 1,164,407 
			 1997 * * * * 121,210 1,156,392 
			 1998 * * * * 128,336 1,221,282 
			 1999 * * * * 129,464 1,177,779 
			 2000 3,678 270 * * 131,913 1,158,098 
			 2001 7,229 3,566 * * 139,878 1,101,025 
			 2002 5,243 4,355 16,065 * 158,082 1,151,909 
			 2003 3,703 5,821 21,300 * 163,136 1,219,195 
			 2004 3,753 6,936 22,488 * 172,166 1,257,341 
			 2005 3,989 4,494 24,355 47,935 172,859 1,190,661 
			
			  Females   
			  Aged 10-17   
			 1995 * * * * 2,131 7,194 
			 1996 * * * * 2,474 8,164 
			 1997 * * * * 2,911 9,445 
			 1998 * * * * 3,301 10,798 
			 1999 * * * * 3,547 10,898 
			 2000 678 1 * * 4,619 10,910 
			 2001 1,421 12 * * 5,742 11,398 
			 2002 938 8 3,143 * 7,510 11,362 
			 2003 645 14 4,350 * 8,138 11,693 
			 2004 733 4 5,077 * 9,156 12,775 
			 2005 843 4 5,603 * 10,101 13,738 
			
			  Aged 18-20   
			 1995 * * * * 2,114 16,134 
			 1996 * * * * 2,344 17,742 
			 1997 * * * * 2,681 17,330 
			 1998 * * * * 3,109 19,254 
			 1999 * * * * 3,377 18,409 
			 2000 * 10 * * 3,398 19,266 
			 2001 * 94 * * 3,253 17,988 
			 2002 * 135 * * 3,300 18,470 
			 2003 * 117 4 * 2,989 18,702 
			 2004 * 161 * * 3,213 18,667 
			 2005 * 78 * 1,155 3,080 18,749 
			
			  Aged 21 and over   
			 1995 * * * * 10,798 194,625 
			 1996 * * * * 11,774 235,054 
			 1997 * * * * 13,188 190,211 
			 1998 * * * * 14,642 205,442 
			 1999 * * * * 15,245 190,700 
			 2000 * 40 * * 15,608 225,914 
			 2001 * 557 * * 16,124 208,111 
			 2002 * 774 * * 17,628 228,763 
			 2003 * 1,106 15 * 17,418 230,222 
			 2004 * 1,495 * * 18,411 248,043 
			 2005 * 965 * 6,372 18,207 250,127 
			
			  All ages   
			 1995 * * * * 15,043 217,953 
			 1996 * * * * 16,592 260,960 
			 1997 * * * * 18,780 216,986 
			 1998 * * * * 21,052 235,494 
			 1999 * * * * 22,169 220,007 
			 2000 678 51 * * 23,625 256,090 
			 2001 1,421 663 * * 25,119 237,497 
			 2002 938 917 3,143 * 28,438 258,595 
			 2003 645 1,237 4,369 * 28,545 260,617 
			 2004 733 1,660 5,077 * 30,780 279,485 
			 2005 843 1,047 5,603 7,527 31,388 282,614 
			
			  All persons   
			  Aged 10-17   
			 1995 * * * * 23,338 67,800 
			 1996 * * * * 25,123 74,597 
			 1997 * * * * 26,530 79,092 
			 1998 * * * * 28,941 86,294 
			 1999 * * * * 30,623 90,160 
			 2000 4,356 4 * * 35,972 91,480 
			 2001 8,650 65 * * 42,859 95,485 
			 2002 6,181 69 19,208 * 54,187 94,548 
			 2003 4,348 69 25,508 * 55,113 92,531 
			 2004 4,486 47 27,546 * 58,139 96,188 
			 2005 4,832 36 29,958 * 61,106 96,203 
			  Aged 18-20   
			 1995 * * * * 22,888 147,483 
			 1996 * * * * 22,752 152,298 
			 1997 * * * * 23,395 156,459 
			 1998 * * * * 25,839 167,122 
			 1999 * * * * 26,934 165,412 
			 2000 * 39 * * 26,499 162,090 
			 2001 * 499 * * 26,368 157,907 
			 2002 * 531 * * 26,743 159,384 
			 2003 * 553 45 * 26,480 162,067 
			 2004 * 618 13 * 27,473 156,399 
			 2005 * 297 * 10,431 26,756 146,051 
			
			  Aged 21 and over   
			 1995 * * * * 83,696 1,127,659 
			 1996 * * * * 84,762 1,198,472 
			 1997 * * * * 90,065 1,137,827 
			 1998 * * * * 94,608 1,203,360 
			 1999 * * * * 94,076 1,142,214 
			 2000 * 278 * * 93,067 1,160,618 
			 2001 * 3,665 * * 95,770 1,085,130 
			 2002 * 4,672 * * 105,590 1,156,572 
			 2003 * 6,436 116 * 110,088 1,225,214 
			 2004 * 7,931 6 * 117,334 1,284,239 
			 2005 * 5,208 * 45,031 116,385 1,231,021 
			
			  All ages   
			 1995 * * * * 129,922 1,342,942 
			 1996 * * * * 132,637 1,425,367 
			 1997 * * * * 139,990 1,373,378 
			 1998 * * * * 149,388 1,456,776 
			 1999 * * * * 151,633 1,397,786 
			 2000 4,356 321 * * 155,538 1,414,188 
			 2001 8,650 4,229 * * 164,997 1,338,522 
			 2002 6,181 5,272 19,208 * 186,520 1,410,504 
			 2003 4,348 7,058 25,669 * 191,681 1,479,812 
			 2004 4,486 8,596 27,565 * 202,946 1,536,826 
			 2005 4,832 5,541 29,958 55,462 204,247 1,473,275 
			 (1) Some community sentences were renamed in April 2001. Community rehabilitation order was previously probation order, community punishment order was previously community service order and community punishment and rehabilitation order was previously combination order. (2) Referral orders were introduced nationally on 1 April 2002. The figures include extensions of referral orders (retrospectively for 2002-04). (3) The community order was introduced on 4 April 2005 and applies to offences committed on or after that date.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Businesses: Orders and Regulations

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his most recent estimate is of the  (a) one-off cost and  (b) recurring cost of implementing the Energy Act 2004 to (i) businesses and (ii) the regulators.

Malcolm Wicks: The most recent estimate was published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment that accompanied the Act when it was passed in July 2004.

Construction: Tolls

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential impact on the construction industry of the introduction of road user charging.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	No decisions have been taken on a national road pricing scheme. The Government are working with local authorities interested in establishing local pricing schemes to address local congestion problems, and the first of these is expected to be in place in four to five years. Any decision on a national road pricing scheme will be taken only on the evidence of these schemes.
	Given that no decisions have been taken on whether to introduce national road pricing and if so what form it might take, it is not possible to estimate the potential impact on the construction industry at this stage.

Natural Gas: Wales

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with representatives from the Welsh Assembly Government on the Felindre to Tirley pipeline.

Malcolm Wicks: Prior to the consenting of this pipeline by the Department of Trade and Industry on 7 February 2007, Welsh Assembly Government officials attended a number of meetings held for stakeholders covering various issues, including the impact of the pipeline on the Brecon Beacons National Park and Special Areas of Conservation.

Telephone Services: Regulation

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Services (ICSTIS) has  (a) issued formal reprimands to service providers,  (b) ordered service providers to submit future promotions and services to them for prior approval for a set period,  (c) ordered a service provider to pay reasonable and valid claims for compensation,  (d) imposed fines on service providers,  (e) barred service providers from access to service and  (f) banned named individuals from operating services for set periods for breaching the ICSTIS Code of Practice.

Margaret Hodge: ICSTIS lists over 7,900 active service providers which it regulates. The latest figures available are for 2006. During that year, ICSTIS  (a) issued formal reprimands to 160 service providers,  (b) asked three service providers to submit future promotions and services to them for prior approval for a set period and these services are individually monitored for compliance,  (c) ordered 33 service providers to pay refunds to customers (the only compensation system open to ICSTIS),  (d) imposed 157 fines on service providers,  (e) barred access to service to 64 service providers and  (f) banned two named individuals from operating services for set periods for breaching the ICSTIS Code of Practice. In some cases, individual service providers could have faced more than one of the aforementioned sanctions.

Telephone Services: Regulation

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many service providers the Independent Committee for the Supervision of the Standards of Telephone Services has found in breach of its Code of Practice.

Margaret Hodge: ICSTIS lists over 7,900 active service providers which it regulates. In 2006, the last year for which figures are available, 99 service providers were found to be in breach of the ICSTIS Code of Practice. Further details are available in the written PQ answer 124254.

Water Power

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for trials of  (a) tidal,  (b) pump storage schemes,  (c) wave and  (d) hydroelectric power generation.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI currently has no plans to trial pump storage or hydroelectric schemes. Such schemes are the application of well understood mature technology and have been in operation for several decades.
	Support for the research and development of wave and tidal technologies including prototype trials is provided under the DTI's Technology Programme. The programme is currently supporting five tidal and two wave projects that are expected to lead to trials of the technology.
	In addition, we anticipate that the DTI's Marine Renewables Deployment Fund will support a number of multi-device grid connected wave and tidal demonstrations.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Audience Community Safety Staff

James Brokenshire: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what rights of audience community safety staff have to appear in court.

Bridget Prentice: The phrase 'community safety staff' covers a wide range of people including those working within the local authority in their community and antisocial behaviour teams and those working within housing management organisations.
	Under section 60 of the County Courts Act 1984, a local authority officer has a right of audience in the county court in certain housing proceedings. Currently employees of housing management organisations who manage local authority housing stock do not have a right of audience. They rely on the court's discretion, under section 27 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, to be able to appear in court.
	As part of the Government's Respect agenda we are considering how to take forward plans to allow employees of housing management organisations similar rights to local authority officers in certain proceedings related to their housing management functions, including measures to tackle antisocial behaviour.

Landlord and Tenant: Fees and Charges

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidance her Department has issued on the types of services incurring service charges on which freeholders will be obliged to consult residents and leaseholders following the implementation of the Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government is responsible for the Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003. Guidance on the types of long term agreements which a landlord is obliged to consult upon under these regulations is available in the Departments' booklet, "Long Leaseholders—A Guide to Your Rights and Responsibilities". This briefly explains the service charges consultation process itself and includes examples of the types of agreements that would need to be consulted upon where they exceeded 12 months.
	The Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE), an Executive non-departmental public body sponsored by this Department, has also issued more detailed guidance on the consultation process and describes some types of long term agreements which a landlord is obliged to consult upon. LEASE can also give free advice on this and other service charge issues.

Landlord and Tenant: Fees and Charges

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether she plans for freeholders to have an obligation to consult residents or leaseholders on service charges for the provision of  (a) a managing agent and  (b) the provision of buildings property insurance; and what anti-avoidance measures are in place to avoid the consultation requirements being sidestepped by the rolling renewal of agreements of less than one year.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government is responsible for leasehold issues. Legislation provides that landlords are required to consult with leaseholders where an agreement of more than 12 months is to be entered into that will incur expenditure to be funded through leaseholder service charges. This includes agreements with managing agents or relating to building insurance. Parliament agreed during the passage of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 that agreements of 12 months or less should not automatically require consultation. However leaseholders with agreements of 12 months or less do have the right to challenge the reasonableness of service charges they may be asked to contribute towards.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Attendance Allowance: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex are in receipt of (i) attendance allowance and (ii) carer's allowance.

Anne McGuire: The administration of attendance allowance and carer's allowance is a matter for the chief executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Terry Moran, dated 20 March 2007:
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) Eastbourne and (b) East Sussex are in receipt of (i) attendance allowance and (ii) carer's allowance.
	The Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, promised you a substantive reply from the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service.
	The information requested is in the attached annexes.
	
		
			  Annex 1: Attendance allowance—all entitled cases at August 2006 
			  Thousand 
			   Total 
			 County of East Sussex 17,090 
			 Eastbourne local authority 3,590 
			 Eastbourne parliamentary constituency 3,910 
			  Notes: 1. Definitions and Conventions: Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Caseload totals show both the number of people in receipt of an allowance and those with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. Parliamentary constituencies are those used for the Westminster Parliament.  Source: DWP Information Directorate: 100 per cent. work and pensions longitudinal study. 
		
	
	
		
			  Annex 2: Carer's allowance by payment status at August 2006 
			  Thousand 
			Entitled/receiving payment 
			   Total  Entitlement only  Claimant receiving benefit  Entitled, payment status unknown 
			 County of East Sussex 5,960 2,760 3,200 — 
			 Eastbourne local authority 1,110 510 600 — 
			 Eastbourne parliamentary constituency 1,210 580 620 — 
			  Notes: 1. Definitions and Conventions: "—" Nil or Negligible; Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Caseload totals show the number of people who are entitled to receive carer's allowance, including those who receive no actual payment. Carers entitled to receive carer's allowance may be paid the benefit, or not paid it because they receive an overlapping benefit equal to or greater than their weekly rate of carer's allowance. 'Claimant receiving benefit' cases cannot be distinguished from 'Entitled' cases prior to August 2003. Parliamentary constituencies are those used for the Westminster Parliament.  Source: DWP Information Directorate: 100 per cent. work and pensions longitudinal study.

Community Care Grants

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time taken to process an application for a community care grant was in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 20 March 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what the average processing time for Community Care Grant applications was in the last year for which figures are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The time it takes to process Community Care Grant applications is measured by counting the average length of time taken to clear all claims processed within a set period (usually monthly). The measure is referred to as the Average Actual Clearance Time.
	The clearance time for an individual Community Care Grant application is measured in whole working days from the date the application is received to the date of the decision, inclusive.
	The expected service level for Community Care Grants is nine days.
	The information in the table covers the twelve months to January 2007.
	
		
			  National Monthly Community Care Grant Average Actual Clearance Times in Days 
			   Days 
			 February 2006 7.5 
			 March 2006 7.5 
			 April 2006 9.0 
			 May 2006 10.4 
			 June 2006 9.7 
			 July 2006 8.9 
			 August 2006 9.5 
			 September 2006 10.4 
			 October 2006 10.0 
			 November 2006 8.9 
			 December 2006 9.0 
			 January 2007 9.1 
		
	
	I hope this is helpful.

Departments: Freedom of Information

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. friend the Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs on 22 February 2007, Official Report, column 866W.

Disability Discrimination Act

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the  (a) one-off and  (b) recurring cost of implementing the Disability Discrimination Act 2004 and 2005 to (i) businesses and (ii) the regulators.

Anne McGuire: There was no Disability Discrimination Act 2004, but on 1 October 2004 we extended the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to a further 1 million employers and 7 million jobs, including 600,000 in which disabled people were working. From the same date, we extended the duties for service providers and these changes helped to open up more services to around 10 million people in this country who are likely to be protected by the Act.
	Regulatory impact assessments of the costs of implementing the duties that came into force in 2004, and of implementing the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, are available in the Library of the House.

Disabled Children

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support his Department gives to low income households with disabled children.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 12 March 2007
	The Department for Work and Pensions provides a range of financial support for low income households with disabled children.
	Depending on the circumstances of the parents, support for low income families may come from jobseeker's allowance or income support, both of which include special premia to help meet the additional costs associated with disability.
	Disabled children may also be entitled to disability living allowance (DLA), a non-contributory, non-income-related and tax free contribution towards the disability-related extra care and mobility costs of severely disabled people. If a child receives DLA, their parent or carer may also be eligible to claim additional support through carers allowance.
	Support is also available from other Government Departments; for example, HM Revenue and Customs are responsible for administering the child tax credit and working tax credit, both of which provide extra help for families that include a disabled child.

Jobcentre Plus: Chorlton

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what average time staff at the Chorlton office of Jobcentre Plus took to process applications to the Social Fund in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many calls to the call centre at the Chorlton office of Jobcentre Plus were  (a) answered,  (b) missed and  (c) intentionally terminated before being answered in each month since January 2006;
	(3)  what average time those calling the call centre at the Chorlton office of Jobcentre Plus waited before their call was answered in the last 12 months.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 20 March 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the average time taken to process Social Fund applications in the Chorlton office in the last 12 months, the average waiting times for those calling the office and how may calls were answered, missed and intentionally terminated before being answered. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The year to date performance against the clearance target for each of the five elements of Social Fund payments for Chorlton office is set out below:
	
		
			   Days against target 
			 Budgeting Loans 5.85 days against a target of 6 days 
			 Community Care Grants 10.24 days against a target of 9 days 
			 Crisis Loans 1.41 days against a target of 2 days 
			 Funeral Payments 9.87 days against a target of 16 days 
			 Sure Start Maternity Grants 6.48 days against a target of 5 days 
		
	
	Chorlton is a centralised Benefit Delivery Centre that has been taking on the Social Fund work of a number of smaller sites throughout the last six months. This has led to some deterioration in performance in December and January. Specific recovery plans have been put in place to improve this including training additional staff and we expect performance to recover.
	Chorlton has not yet had the new telephony system installed that will allow the missed, answered and intentionally terminated calls or average waiting times to be monitored so I am sorry that I am unable to provide this information. The new telephony system should be installed by the end of December 2007.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus: Compensation

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many special payments have been made to customers of Jobcentre Plus in compensation for the poor performance of Jobcentre Plus in each of the last six months for which figures are available; and what the total amount of such special payments was.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 6 February 2007
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 20 March 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many special payments have been made to customers of Jobcentre Plus in compensation for the poor performance of Jobcentre Plus in each of the last six months for which figures are available; and what the total amount of such special payments was. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The Jobcentre Plus special payments scheme is part of a wider scheme operated by the Department for Work and Pensions. Details are contained in the Financial Redress for Maladministration Guide, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.
	Information on the number of special payments made by Jobcentre Plus and the total amount of those payments in the last six months is in the table.
	
		
			  Special payments 
			  2006  Number of payments  Amount Paid (£) 
			 July 439 166,612.23 
			 August 530 161,749.63 
			 September 412 131,224.17 
			 October 350 133,764.22 
			 November 545 229,654.41 
			 December 339 136,258.45 
		
	
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus: Norfolk

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many crisis loan payments were made from  (a) Swaffham and  (b) Downham Market Jobcentre Plus branches in each of the last five years.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 20 March 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many Crisis Loan payments have been made from the Swaffham and Downham Market Jobcentre Plus branches in each of the last five years. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Crisis Loan payments have only been made from these Jobcentres since 2004. Prior to that, payments were issued from the former Benefits Agency offices. For customers from Swaffham and Downham Market this was the office in Kings Lynn. Details of the number of Crisis Loan payments issued from the two offices since 2004 are outlined in the table below.
	
		
			   Downham Market  Swaffham 
			 2004-05 138 71 
			 2005-06 128 78 
			 2006-07 182 237

Jobcentre Plus: Norfolk

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how far residents of  (a) Swaffham and  (b) Downham Market will have to travel to their nearest Jobcentre Plus branch if existing branches are closed; and what assessment he has made of the availability of public transport for those journeys.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 20 March 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how far residents of Swaffham and Downham Market will have to travel to their nearest Jobcentre Plus branch if existing branches are closed; and what assessment he has made of the availability of public transport for those journeys. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Information about the availability of public transport and the distances to be travelled is included in the table:
	
		
			  Transport availability to other jobcentres from Downham Market and Swaffham 
			   Destination  Method  Distance (miles)  Frequency (minutes)  Journey time (minutes) 
			 Downham Market Kings Lynn Jobcentre Train 12 60 16 
			   Bus 12 30 40-50 
			   
			 Swaffham Dereham Jobcentre Bus 14 30 30 
			  Kings Lynn Jobcentre Bus 17 30 30 
		
	
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus: Norfolk

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the profile of customers visiting each of the Jobcentre Plus branches earmarked for closure in Norfolk;
	(2)  what services are offered at the  (a) Swaffham,  (b) Downham Market,  (c) Wymondham and  (d) Hunstanton Jobcentre Plus branches; and what average number of people used each branch on each day in the last six months.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 20 March 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking what assessment he has made of the profile of customers visiting each of the Jobcentre Plus branches earmarked for closure in Norfolk and what services are offered at the Swaffham, Downham Market, Wymondham and Hunstanton Jobcentre Plus branches; and what was the average number of people using each branch on each day in the last six months. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The Jobcentres at Downham Market, Hunstanton, Swaffham and Wymondham deliver the full range of advisory interventions, with the exception of New Jobseeker Interviews at Downham Market, Hunstanton and Swaffham. The New Jobseeker Interviews are held at Dereham for Swaffham customers, and Kings Lynn for customers from Downham Market and Hunstanton.
	All locations carry out Fortnightly Jobsearch Reviews for customers in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance. In addition, all four Jobcentres currently provide Jobpoints that enable customers to search for advertised jobs. Jobsearch facilities are also available to all customers via the Internet and by Jobseeker Direct our telephone based Jobsearch service delivered through our network of contact centres.
	The average numbers of people who have attended the offices for Fortnightly Jobsearch Reviews and advisory interviews on a daily basis in the last six months are set out in the table.
	
		
			  Average daily number of fortnightly reviews and adviser interviews at Downham Market, Hunstanton, Swaffham and Wymondham Jobcentres 
			   Fortnightly reviews( 1)  Adviser interviews( 1) 
			 Downham Market 22 10 
			 Hunstanton 18 6 
			 Swaffham 20 7 
			 Wymondham 45 15 
			 (1) Per day. 
		
	
	The number of advisory interventions for Wymondham is considerably higher as New Jobseeker interviews are still carried out there.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus: Norfolk

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff are employed at the Jobcentre Plus branches in  (a) Swaffham and  (b) Downham Market.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 20 March 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many staff are employed at the Jobcentre Plus branches in Swaffham and Downham Market. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	There are six staff at Swaffham Jobcentre, three of whom are part-time, covering a total of five full-time equivalent posts. There are seven full-time staff working at Downham Market.
	I hope this is helpful.

Members: Correspondence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for North Norfolk of 23 June 2006 on behalf of his constituent Barbara Randle, passed from the Department for Education and Skills to his Department for response.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	I responded to the hon. Member on 16 March.

New Deal for Young People

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have graduated from the New Deal for Young People to the New Deal 25 plus without having left the New Deal for Young People or jobseekers' allowance between their 18th and 25th birthdays.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 8 March 2007
	The number of people who are recorded as moving directly from New Deal for Young People (NDYP) to New Deal 25 plus without having left NDYP or jobseeker's allowance between their 18 and 25 birthdays is nil.

Pension Credit: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in each electoral ward in Tamworth constituency receive pension credit.

James Purnell: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Pension credit recipients in Tamworth constituency—August 2006 
			  Ward names  Household recipients 
			 Bourne Vale 50 
			 Fazeley 275 
			 Little Aston 50 
			 Mease and Tame 125 
			 Shenstone 120 
			 Stonnall 45 
			 Amington 280 
			 Belgrave 265 
			 Bolehill 430 
			 Castle 525 
			 Glascote 315 
			 Mercian 425 
			 Spital 390 
			 Stonydelph 235 
			 Trinity 250 
			 Wilnecote 235 
			 Tamworth constituency 4,020 
			  Notes: 1. The number of households in receipt are rounded to a multiple of five. Totals may not sum to area totals. 2. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household. 3. Wards are based on 2003 ward boundaries.  Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data

Personal Accounts Delivery Authority: Public Appointments

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost has been of the human resources consultancy work being performed for his Department in the search for the  (a) chairman and  (b) chief executive of the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority.

Anne McGuire: The contract for the recruitment of the chairman and chief executive for the proposed Personal Accounts Delivery Authority was procured through the Cabinet Office framework for services of this type: this framework was let upon the principles of fair and open competition.
	The Department considers the exact cost of the recruitment agency to be commercial in confidence on the basis that this would harm the competitive position of the successful bidder in future public sector bids were their market competitors to understand their costs for this contract.
	The information is therefore withheld under Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information exemption category 13—Third party's commercial confidences.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled People

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received income support on grounds of incapacity in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  The number of people receiving income support on the grounds of incapacity in Great Britain; each August 2004 to 2006. 
			 2004 1,215,130 
			 2005 1,198,040 
			 2006 1,196,690 
			  Note:  Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent data.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled People

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who receive incapacity benefit are also in receipt of  (a) income support,  (b) housing benefit and  (c) council tax benefit.

Anne McGuire: The most recent available information for each benefit is in the following tables.
	
		
			  The number of incapacity benefit claimants in Great Britain who are in receipt of income support: August 2006. 
			 Incapacity benefit with income support 1,025,750 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Incapacity benefit figures include credits only cases.  Source: DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent data. 
		
	
	
		
			  Housing benefit and council tax benefit recipients also t also in receipt of incapacity benefit: Great Britain May 2003 
			 Housing benefit 396,000 
			 Council tax benefit 498,000 
			  Notes:  1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest thousand.  2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.  3. Housing Benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases.  4. Council Tax Benefit figures exclude any second adult rebate cases.  Source:  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent sample, taken in May 2003.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled People

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of severe disablement allowance in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  The number of severe disablement allowance claimants in Great Britain; each August 2004 to 2006. 
			 2004 302,730 
			 2005 289,590 
			 2006 277,020 
			  Note:  Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent data.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled People

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who receive severe disablement allowance also receive  (a) income support,  (b) housing benefit and  (c) council tax benefit.

Anne McGuire: The most recent available information for each benefit is in the following tables:
	
		
			  The number of severe disablement allowance claimants in Great Britain who are in receipt of income support: August 2006. 
			 Severe disablement allowance with income support 170,950 
			  Notes:  1.Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent data. 
		
	
	
		
			  Housing benefit and council tax benefit recipients also in receipt of severe disablement allowance: Great Britain, May 2003 
			 Housing benefit 112,000 
			 Council tax benefit 97,000 
			  Notes:  1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest thousand.  2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.  3. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases.  4. Council tax benefit figures exclude any second adult rebate cases.  Source:  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2003.

Social Security Benefits: Lone Parents

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of lone parents were  (a) in employment and  (b) on out of work benefits in each quarter since 1992.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 19 March 2007
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		
			  Lone parents in employment in Great Britain; spring quarters 1992 to 2006 
			  Quarter  Lone parent employment rate (percentage)  Number in employment 
			 Spring 1992 40.7 488,000 
			 Spring 1993 40.8 511,000 
			 Spring 1994 41.8 572,000 
			 Spring 1995 42.3 626,000 
			 Spring 1 996 44.1 688,000 
			 Spring 1997 45.3 696,000 
			 Spring 1998 46.6 764,000 
			 Spring 1999 48.4 806,000 
			 Spring 2000 51.2 832,000 
			 Spring 2001 51.5 859,000 
			 Spring 2002 53.3 923,000 
			 Spring 2003 53.1 923,000 
			 Spring 2004 54.3 972,000 
			 Spring 2005 56.6 1,014,000 
			 Spring 2006 56.6 1,008,000 
			  Source: Labour Force Survey Spring Quarters 1992-2006 
		
	
	
		
			  Lone parents on out-of-work benefits in Great Britain: each quarter, May 1995 to August 2006 
			   Number 
			  1995  
			 May 1,117,500 
			 August 1,131,100 
			 November 1,126,800 
			   
			  1996  
			 February 1,128,300 
			 May 1,130,400 
			 August 1,134,000 
			 November 1,112,000 
			   
			  1997  
			 February 1,114,900 
			 May 1,110,400 
			 August 1,110,100 
			 November 1,078,400 
			   
			  1998  
			 February 1,070,200 
			 May 1,061,100 
			 August 1,057,100 
			 November 1,039,800 
			   
			  1999  
			 February 1,045,400 
			 May 1,043,300 
			 August 1,050,700 
			 November 1,038,400 
			   
			  2000  
			 February 1,029,900 
			 May 1,022,500 
			 August 1,026,200 
			 November 1,007,700 
			   
			  2001  
			 February 1,010,300 
			 May 1,005,200 
			 August 1,011,100 
			 November 983,500 
			   
			  2002  
			 February 980,600 
			 May 979,000 
			 August 986,400 
			 November 967,500 
			   
			  2003  
			 February 965,400 
			 May 978,100 
			 August 993,400 
			 November 965,500 
			   
			  2004  
			 February 970,300 
			 May 963,600 
			 August 963,500 
			 November 945,800 
			   
			  2005  
			 February 949,000 
			 May 940,800 
			 August 944,600 
			 November 931,800 
			   
			  2006  
			 February 934,600 
			 May 934,500 
			 August 897,900 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. "Out-of-work benefits" includes income support, job seeker's allowance, incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance.  Source: 5 per cent. DWP administrative data

State Retirement Pensions

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the annual cost of increasing the additional 25 pence paid to pensioners over 80 years of age to £5 per week.

James Purnell: The estimated annual cost of increasing the additional 25 pence paid to pensioners over 80 years of age to £5 per week is £500 million in 2007-08.

State Retirement Pensions

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual cost is of uprating state pensions to pensioners over 80 years of age.

James Purnell: The estimated cash cost of uprating state pensions to pensioners over 80 years of age this April will be approximately £490 million.
	 Note:
	The state pension components included in this answer are the basic state pension, additional state pension and graduated retirement benefit for UK and overseas pensioners.

Village Agents

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the current funding arrangement is for village agents; and what will happen when the present funding comes to an end.

James Purnell: The Gloucestershire Village Agents is one of eight LinkAge Plus Pilots. Funding for the eight pilots for two years was secured at approximately £10 million.
	Overall pilot allocation for Gloucestershire is £937,015. This funding was for pump priming to kick start the pilot in Gloucestershire.
	All LinkAge Plus pilots have to develop plans to ensure long-term sustainability beyond the two year funding package: no further central funding will be provided.
	A full evaluation of LinkAge Plus will be completed in autumn 2008.

Vocational Training: Fees and Charges

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks are undertaken by jobcentres on firms conducting interviews in jobcentres for enrolment on training courses for which applicants will have to pay; and whether it is a requirement for the pass rates of such courses to be made known to interviewees.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 2 March 2007
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 20 March 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding what checks are undertaken by Jobcentre Plus on firms conducting interviews in Jobcentres for enrolment to training courses for which applicants will have to pay; and whether it is a requirement for the pass rates of such courses to be made known to potential applicants. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Our vacancy policy is to refuse to accept or advertise a vacancy where an up-front fee is payable and this is non-refundable to applicants if they are unsuccessful in gaining employment.
	It is not a requirement to advise applicants of the pass rate for a particular training course.
	I hope this helpful.

Welfare to Work: Reform

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the welfare system in the UK.

Jim Murphy: Ministers in this Department regularly receive representations from members of the public and representatives of major organisations regarding our welfare system. We continue to liaise closely with a wide range of stakeholders.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Adoption: Equality

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether a faith-based adoption agency which is not in receipt of public funds would be eligible for the exemption under Regulation 14, paragraph 3, of the proposed Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007.

Meg Munn: holding answer 19 March 2007
	A faith- based adoption agency that is not operating on behalf of and under contract with a public authority could qualify for the religious organisation exemption under Regulation 14, paragraph 3 of the proposed Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007—provided the agency is not being run on a commercial basis and can demonstrate that the exemption is necessary either to comply with the doctrine of the organisation, or to avoid conflicting with the strongly held religious beliefs of a significant number of the religion's followers.

Audit Commission: Expenditure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) budget and  (b) administrative costs were of the Audit Commission in each year since its creation.

Ruth Kelly: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. The chief executive subsequently replied to her on 14 March as follows:
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 14 March 2007:
	Your parliamentary question on the total budget and administrative costs of the Audit Commission in each year since its creation has been passed to me for reply.
	The Commission does not have full records of its budget for each financial year since 1984. Instead, I have set out the Commission's actual costs for each year since 1984 in the annex to this letter.
	It is not possible to answer your questions about administrative costs in the absence of any clear definition of this term. The definition of administrative costs employed within central government is not applicable to the Commission as the Commission does not have programmes run by third parties, and therefore all our expenditure is incurred in support of our statutory duties as set out in the Audit Commission Act 1998.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	The Audit Commission's costs since 1984 are as follows:
	
		
			  Year end  Period length (months)  Total (£000) 
			 1984 12 12,859 
			 1985 12 17,347 
			 1986 12 21,623 
			 1987 12 23,625 
			 1988 12 25,482 
			 1989 12 28,169 
			 1990 12 33,704 
			 1991 12 46,383 
			 1992 12 61,000 
			 1993 12 73,775 
			 1994 12 82,216 
			 1995 12 88,657 
			 1996 12 92,356 
			 1997 12 93,130 
			 1997 7 60,311 
			 1998 12 104,983 
			 1999 12 111,081 
			 2000 12 143,847 
			 2001 12 177,927 
			 2002 12 212,972 
			 2002-04 17 324,054 
			 2005 12 230,736 
			 2006 12 193,824 
		
	
	The Audit Commission changed its financial year end in 1997 so there are two sets of accounts for that year. Our financial year end was changed again in 2004, so the period 2002-04 is for 17 months, from November 2002 to March 2004.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations her Department has received from black and minority ethnic groups on the involvement of the Race Equality Group in the development of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

Meg Munn: The Secretary of State has received two letters on the involvement of the Race Equality Group in the development of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR). Officials have also met with the chair of the British Federation of Race Equality Councils, who is also a member of the Race Equality Group, to discuss a programme of work to aid the transition of race equality councils to the CEHR.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for how long the appointed Transition Commissioners are expected to assist the Commissioner for Equality and Human Rights.

Meg Munn: The transition Commissioners have been appointed to assist in assuring good continuity between the work of the existing equality Commissions (Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission) and that of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, Under the Equality Act, the transition commissioners will remain in post for up to two years after the dissolution of the existing Commissions.

Community Development: Expenditure

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Millennium communities have been constructed; in what locations; and how many homes have been completed in each.

Yvette Cooper: There are seven Millennium communities. Greenwich Millennium Village was the first to be announced in 1997. The others are at Allerton Bywater (near Leeds), New Islington (East Manchester), South Lynn (Kings Lynn), East Ketley (Telford), Oakgrove (Milton Keynes) and Hastings. In total the programme will bring forward over 9,000 eco-home 'Excellent' standard homes, plus other commercial and community facilities, providing inspiration to both the development industry and the general house-buying public and demonstrating how difficult sites can be brought back into use.
	All the projects are currently on site with the exception of Oakgrove (Milton Keynes) where construction work is due to start towards the end of 2007.
	A total number of 955 homes have been completed to date. Of these, 867 are at Greenwich, 44 are at Allerton Bywater, 21 are at Kings Lynn and 23 are at New Islington.
	A further 895 homes are currently under construction, and we anticipate 6,000 being completed by 2010.

Council Housing: Rents

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers local authorities have to increase rent for council house tenants; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Section 24 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended by section 162 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and by section 92 of the Local Government Act 2003, provides that:
	1. A local housing authority may make such reasonable charges as they may determine for the tenancy or occupation of their houses.
	2. The authority shall from time to time review rents and make such changes, either of rents generally or of particular rents, as circumstances may require.

European Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of the merits of including Cornish people within the terms of the European Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities.

Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 6 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1885-86W.

Local Government: Reform

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether a by-election would be held under her proposals for reform of local government if a member of a directly elected executive  (a) resigned and  (b) died.

Ruth Kelly: The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill provides that if the executive leader resigns or dies, there is a by-election for the whole executive. If any other member of the executive resigns or dies, it is the decision of the leader whether or not there is a by-election for that position, unless the remaining number of executive members is below the minimum allowed in which case there must be a by-election for that position.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Northavon dated  (a) 2 October 2006,  (b) 14 November 2006 and  (c) 26 January 2007 on home information packs.

Yvette Cooper: I have now replied to the hon. Member's correspondence. I apologise for the delay.

Non-Domestic Rates: Broadband

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether her Department plans to conduct a regulatory impact assessment as part of its forthcoming consultation on non-domestic rates for unbundled local loops; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps she plans to take to ensure that her Department takes into account the principles of good regulatory practice in her forthcoming consultation on non-domestic rates for unbundled local loops; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what account her forthcoming consultation on non-domestic rates for unbundled loops will take of the potential impact on the wider broadband market; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The forthcoming consultation on non-domestic rates and local loop unbundling will be in line with the Government's code of practice on consultations. This includes following better regulation best practice and carrying out a regulatory impact assessment which will cover the factors relevant to delivering the best solution for administering the future rating of unbundled local loops.

Social Rented Housing

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  who maintains the National Register of Social Housing;
	(2)  how many homes in England are on the National Register of Social Housing.

Yvette Cooper: The National Register of Social Housing is under development and contained records of 1,026,338 units of social housing stock as at 9 March 2007. The database is maintained by the Analytical Services Directorate in Communities and Local Government.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to ensure that letting agencies receive the information necessary to implement the tenancy deposit scheme.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 14 March 2007
	Communities and Local Government have an information programme for landlords, letting agents and tenants. The campaign includes information packs for landlords, letting agents, tenants' advisers and the media, including "frequently asked questions"; organising round-table and networking events with local and regional stakeholders; and accepting invitations from stakeholders to attend their forums. In addition an advertising campaign started on 26 February which will run to late May using national press, regional press, trade press, foreign traveller press, online and radio. Communities and Local Government posters and leaflets are available to order free from the direct.gov website at
	www.direct.gov.uk/tenancydeposit.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departments: Trade Unions

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many meetings  (a) she and  (b) her Department's Ministers held with trade union representatives in 2006.

Hilary Armstrong: Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and advice. It is not normal practice to disclose details of such meetings.

National Youth Volunteering Organisation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much funding has been provided for the vcashpoint scheme organised by the National Youth Volunteering Organisation; and how many community projects have participated in the scheme.

Edward Miliband: 'vcashpoint' was launched on 28 February 2007. It is a match funded project which is supported equally by HSBC and the independent charity v, combining to provide a £1 million youth fund. The closing date for receipt for the first round of applications is 24 April 2007.

Policy Review

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  which members of the Government attended the policy review event on 3 March;
	(2)  what the cost was to the public purse of hosting the policy review event on 3 March.

Hilary Armstrong: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 March 2007,  Official Report, column 2198W.

Policy Review

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate she has made of the total cost of the Government's policy review process to date; and how much of the sum is accounted for by  (a) the IPSOS-MORI contracts,  (b) seminars, meetings and consultations,  (c) online and website projects, including contracts with external firms,  (d) commissioning, producing and distributing reports and  (e) civil servants' time.

Hilary Armstrong: There is no single cost centre for the Government's policy review process. However, the process has accounted for a substantial amount of activity across a number of Government Departments.

Smith Institute

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any  (a) people and  (b) organisations have been served with orders for disclosure under section 8(3) of the Charities Act 1993 and associated legislation by the Charity Commission in pursuit of its investigation into compliance issues at the Smith Institute; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: This is a matter for the Charity Commission as the non-ministerial Government Department responsible for the regulation of charities in England and Wales. The chief executive of the Charity Commission will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Smith Institute

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1633W, on the Smith Institute, what the title was of each publication purchased; and how many volumes of each were purchased.

Hilary Armstrong: It is not possible to identify from the Department's accounting system the title and volume of each publication purchased. This information is therefore available only at disproportionate cost.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Departments: Appeals

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what independent body exists to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department.

John Prescott: The parliamentary ombudsman investigates complaints that injustice may have been caused by maladministration on the part of Government Departments and other public bodies. The parliamentary ombudsman is an independent statutory office-holder.

Departments: Publicity

Michael Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Department's total spending was on advertising and promotional campaigns in each year since its inception; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to  (a) television,  (b) radio and  (c) print media.

John Prescott: Nil.

Departments: Termination of Employment

Oliver Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department undertakes employee exit surveys.

John Prescott: Staff in my office are seconded from the Department for Communities and Local Government. As a matter of course, all staff are sent an exit questionnaire when leaving the Department.

Slavery: Anniversaries

Dawn Butler: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what legacy he expects the Government to leave at the end of the commemorations of the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

John Prescott: The Government have worked with grassroots and national organisations around four main themes, which will each provide a legacy:
	1. To increase awareness of the slave trade and Britain's role in both the trade and its abolition
	2. To commemorate those who suffered and died as a result of the transatlantic slave trade and recognise those people who campaigned for abolition and ensured the new laws were enforced.
	3. To increase awareness of the need to address legacy issues of the slave trade, such as discrimination, racism and inequality in the UK, and poverty, disease and lack of educational access in parts of Africa, and highlight the ongoing work of the Government in this respect.
	4. To highlight that slavery exists today in the form of people trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour and that the Government are taking action to eradicate it.
	The Government's approach to the bicentenary complements our ongoing action to tackle contemporary issues, including race inequality and community cohesion issues in the UK, poverty and modern day slavery internationally, and improving education and access to it for all our children. Further announcements will be made throughout the year about what the Government are doing in these areas to ensure the bicentenary commemorations leave a positive and lasting legacy for the future.

Slavery: Anniversaries

Dawn Butler: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals for an annual remembrance day in relation to abolition of the slave trade.

John Prescott: The Government are committed to commemorating the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade and has a range of events and activities planned throughout 2007.
	There have been calls from several quarters for a national memorial day to recognise the injustice of the slave trade and its many victims. There is already a UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition on 23 August. Some cities in the UK, such as Liverpool, already take part in this.
	The Government are aware of the calls for an annual national remembrance day and we are keen, during this bicentenary year, to listen to the views of local communities about what date this should fall on and what form it might take, if such a day were to be instituted.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

West Bank: Israeli Settlements

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will table a motion under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter requiring Israel not to expand its settlements in the west bank.

Kim Howells: Settlements are illegal under international law and settlement activity is an obstacle to peace. The Roadmap is clear that Israel should freeze all settlement construction including the "natural growth" of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since 2001. We will continue to raise our concerns about settlement activity with the Israeli government.
	We have no plans to table a Chapter 7 resolution in the UN Security Council onIsrael's settlement activities.

Palestine Government

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of prospects for a National Unity government in Palestine.

Kim Howells: I welcome President Abbas' continued efforts at intra-Palestinian reconciliation, which have led to agreement on the forming of a National Unity government. This is a positive step.
	We will judge the National Unity government by its actions and respond accordingly.

Palestine Government

Shahid Malik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of prospects for a National Unity government in Palestine.

Kim Howells: I welcome President Abbas' continued efforts at intra-Palestinian reconciliation, which have led to agreement on the forming of a National Unity government. This is a positive step.
	We will judge the National Unity government by its actions and respond accordingly.

Arms Sales

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Chinese government on arms sales to Iran.

Ian McCartney: As part of discussions on a new Security Council resolution, officials have had detailed discussions on imposing restrictions on arms exports to and from Iran with all their P5 (China, France, Russia, US) colleagues. I am pleased to say we have now reached agreement on a text, and are taking forward these discussions with non-permanent members.
	We expect the measures to build on those in resolution 1737 and cover financial measures and asset freezes against Iranian entities and individuals, as well as restrictions on the arms trade with Iran.
	This is a proportional and incremental response in order to increase the pressure on Iran, which is flouting its legal obligations to comply with UN Security Council requirements.

Climate Change

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the European Union is taking to promote the tackling of climate change internationally.

Margaret Beckett: The EU has shown international leadership on tackling climate change by agreeing an ambitious package at the Spring Council, including a commitment to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent. by 2020.
	This underlines the EU's intent to move swiftly to a competitive, low carbon economy, and paves the way for progress in the G8 and the UN. It also shows that EU governments are responding actively to their citizens' concerns.

Zimbabwe

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her South African counterpart on the security situation in Zimbabwe.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to her South African counterpart on 15 March about the situation in Zimbabwe. They discussed the deepening crisis and what more needs to be done to increase the pressure on Mugabe and his Government to change their policies and bring the country back from the brink. We will continue to work closely with South Africa and other members of the international community to achieve this end.
	I should add that in my statement to the Human Rights Council on 13 March, I joined my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, in utterly condemning the violent repression of the peaceful prayer meeting on 11 March. While in Geneva last week, I also discussed Zimbabwe with Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The situation in Zimbabwe remains deeply worrying. Importantly, our humanitarian assistance in the form of food and health care is continuing and this is helping to keep ordinary Zimbabweans alive.

Zimbabwe

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in her answers to questions in the House earlier today set out the Government's position on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to Portugal on the unacceptability of the presence of President Mugabe and other members of the government of Zimbabwe at the EU-African Union summit during the forthcoming Portuguese presidency of the EU.

Ian McCartney: The UK wants a successful EU-Africa summit that signals the EU's commitment to Africa and confirms a genuine partnership between the two continents founded inter alia on a respect for good governance and human rights which is lacking in today's Zimbabwe. We have made our views on Zimbabwean representation at the summit clear to our EU partners, including Portugal. We will look to the presidency for a solution on attendance that is consistent with the EU Common Position on Zimbabwe.

Iraq: Civil War

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of whether Iraq is in a state of civil war.

Kim Howells: We share concerns at the high levels of violence in Iraq, but the term civil war is not an accurate description: the Iraqi Government are still unitary and there is no rival Government. Key is to bring down the level of violence and to reach a sustainable political solution. The Government of Iraq are committed to this and their friends and allies are providing support to help them achieve it.

Bilateral Relations: Russia

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on bilateral relations with Russia.

Geoff Hoon: A productive partnership with Russia is important to the successful achievement of a wide range of the Government's international priorities. We will continue to work with Russia on important issues such as Kosovo, Iran, energy and climate security, and in the promotion of trade and investment. Where obstacles and disagreements exist, we continue to insist on a transparent, open and honest dialogue to resolve them.

Ethiopia

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the recent release of kidnapped embassy officials in Ethiopia for the activities of consular staff.

Ian McCartney: The Government are delighted that the five staff and family members from our embassy in Addis Ababa abducted recently in Ethiopia have been released. The Government do, however, remain concerned for the welfare of the Ethiopians who were taken at the same time as the embassy group and hope they too will be released.
	To deal with this incident, the Government deployed additional staff to our embassies in Asmara and Addis Ababa, and to Djibouti. Along with staff already posted to these embassies, and with officials in London and elsewhere, they worked tirelessly and in a wholly co-ordinated way to help secure the release of the five.
	The Government are grateful for the exceptional co-operation and assistance received from Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia and President Isaias of Eritrea, and their Governments, as well as from others in the region.

Sri Lanka

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the political situation in Sri Lanka; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama, on 7 March. She made clear our view that violence would not resolve the conflict. She emphasised the Government's commitment to Sri Lanka's Norwegian-facilitated peace process and our willingness to help bring about a peaceful solution. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reiterated these points in the House on 14 March.

Pakistan

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Government of Pakistan concerning the dismissal of the Chief Justice.

Kim Howells: We are closely following developments in Pakistan following the decision to suspend the Chief Justice of Pakistan and to refer his case to the Supreme Judicial Council.
	The EU Troika has made a joint démarche to the Government of Pakistan, stressing the need to respect the independence of the judiciary and to follow the rule of law.

Iran

Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK is advocating at the UN Security Council on Iran's nuclear programme.

Kim Howells: The United Kingdom is co-sponsoring the Resolution on Iran currently before the Security Council, drafted by the UK, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US (the "E3+3"), which builds on the measures implemented by Security Council Resolution 1737.

Iran

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of Iran's compliance with Security Council resolutions; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Dr. Mohammad el-Baradei, reported on 22 February that Iran has not complied with Security Council Resolution 1737, and therefore neither with 1696 which made the IAEA Board requirement of the suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities a mandatory requirement. The Security Council is, as envisaged in Resolution 1737, considering further measures under Article 41 of the UN Charter.

Kashmir

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Governments of India and Pakistan on the political situation in Kashmir.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed India-Pakistan relations and the situation in Kashmir with the Government of Pakistan during her visit to Islamabad in February 2007.
	We welcome India and Pakistan's continuing commitment to the dialogue process, and hope that this will lead to a lasting resolution of all outstanding issues, including Kashmir.

Convention on Bribery

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the United Kingdom's obligations are under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development convention on bribery; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: I made a statement on 19 March, and we published the report on our progress on implementing the Convention on 15 March. I have placed copies of both documents in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Administration of Justice

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she expects functioning institutions of justice to be fully operational as set out in the London Compact of 2006 in  (a) Badakhshan,  (b) Badghis,  (c) Baghlan,  (d) Balkh,  (e) Bamyan,  (f) Daykundi,  (g) Farah,  (h) Faryab,  (i) Ghazni,  (j) Ghor,  (k) Helmand,  (l) Herat,  (m) Jowzjan,  (n) Kabul,  (o) Kandahar,  (p) Kapisa,  (q) Khost,  (r) Konar,  (s) Kunduz,  (t) Laghman,  (u) Lowgar,  (v) Nangarhar,  (w) Nimruz,  (x) Nurestan,  (y) Oruzgan,  (z) Paktia,  (aa) Paktika,  (ab) Panjshir,  (ac) Parvan,  (ad) Samangan,  (ae) Sar-e Pol,  (af) Takhar,  (ag) Wardak and  (ah) Zabol in Afghanistan by the end of 2010; what progress has been made; and what progress she expects to be made by the end of the year in each province.

Kim Howells: The benchmarks set out in the 2006 Afghanistan Compact cover a range of issues including the institutions of justice. The Compact also mandated the Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) to keep progress of all the benchmarks under regular review. The JCMB, comprising members of both the Afghan Government and the international community, meets four times a year to review the implementation of the Compact and suggest corrective action, as appropriate. As a member of the JCMB, the UK is playing a full part in ensuring the Compact is implemented and carefully monitored.
	The full details of all the progress reviews to date are available on the Afghanistan National Development Strategy's website (www.ands.gov.af) under 'JCMB'.

Afghanistan: Administration of Justice

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the reforms to strengthen the professionalism, credibility and integrity of key institutions of the justice system in Afghanistan was met by the end of 2006 in accordance with the target of the London Compact of 2006; what further progress she expects to be made by the end of 2007; and whether she expects the targets to be fully implemented by the end of 2010.

Kim Howells: The Italian Government is the partner on justice sector reform in Afghanistan. However, it is supported by the efforts and investments of the UK and other members of the International Community, including through the Government's work on Counter Narcotics (CN). To date we have contributed to the Italian remit by building up the counter-narcotic criminal justice system infrastructure in the following ways: professional mentors working with organisations such as the Criminal Justice Task Force, supporting judges, prosecutors, investigators; building a high-secure detention prison wing; Her Majesty's Prison Service training for Afghan prison officers; and training and mentoring for the CN Police.
	The Benchmarks set out in the 2006 Afghanistan Compact cover a range of issues, including the institutions of justice. The Compact also mandated the Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) to keep progress of all the benchmarks under regular review. The JCMB, comprising members of both the Afghan Government and the international community, meets four times a year to review the implementation of the compact and suggest corrective action, as appropriate. As a member of the JCMB, the UK is playing a full part in ensuring the compact is implemented and carefully monitored.
	The full details of all the progress reviews to date are available on the Afghanistan National Development Strategy's website (www.ands.gov.af) under 'JCMB'.

Afghanistan: Drugs

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the impact of opium crop eradication efforts in Helmand in 2006 on the security situation in the province.

Margaret Beckett: According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, an estimated 3,166 hectares of opium crop were eradicated in Helmand in 2006. There is no evidence to suggest that increased Taliban activity in Helmand last year was due to the Afghan Government's counter narcotics efforts. Poppy eradication does not generally meet with violent resistance if it is targeted at areas where there are legal alternatives for farmers.
	The UK will continue to work with the Afghans to ensure eradication in Helmand is targeted effectively and that local security conditions are taken fully into account.

Afghanistan: Drugs

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the eradication of opium crop in 2005 on the overall opium crop harvested in Afghanistan in 2006.

Margaret Beckett: I refer the right hon. Member to the written answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (Dr. Howells), gave the hon. Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn) on 13 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 1099-1100W. Cultivation of opium in Afghanistan went up by 59 per cent. in 2006, as a result of a number of factors. However, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime's 2006 opium survey suggests that where eradication took place in 2005 farmers were less likely to plant poppy in the next season.
	Eradication is an important means of deterrent, where there is access to legal livelihoods. It needs, however, to be balanced with measures to interdict drugs, bring criminals to justice, build institutions and encourage development of rural communities to provide alternatives for poppy farmers.

Afghanistan: Drugs

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what strategy is in place for opium crop eradication in Afghanistan in the lead up to the 2007 harvest.

Margaret Beckett: Eradication policy and implementation is the responsibility of the Afghan Government, and is one of the eight pillars of their National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS). The NDCS supports the efforts of the Central Afghan Eradication Force and governor-led-eradication campaigns. The NDCS also states that eradication should be targeted in areas where there is access to legal rural livelihoods. The UK provides support to the Afghans for the planning, monitoring and targeting of eradication.

Afghanistan: Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her estimate is of the volume of production of opium in Afghanistan in each of the past five years; and what her estimate is of likely production volume in the next three years.

Kim Howells: The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducts an annual survey into the level of opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan. These surveys assess that the potential volume of opium production in Afghanistan was 6,100 metric tonnes (mt) in 2006, 4,100 mt in 2005, 4,200 mt in 2004, 3,600 mt in 2003 and 3,400 mt in 2002. The cultivation picture varies between and within provinces and comparing total levels of production does not necessarily represent an accurate picture of progress to date; in areas of Afghanistan where access to governance, security and development has improved, reductions achieved in 2005 were sustained and in some cases improved upon in 2006. Although it is too early to predict the levels of production in the next three years, the UNODC's 2007 Rapid Assessment Survey suggests that Afghanistan may be facing another year of high poppy cultivation.

Afghanistan: Migrant Workers

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she expects Afghanistan and  (a) its neighbours and  (b) other countries in the region to reach agreements to enable Afghanistan (i) to import skilled labour and (ii) to enable Afghans to seek work in the region and send remittances back to Afghanistan by the end of 2010 as set out in the target of the 2006 London Compact; what progress has been made; and what progress she expects to be made by the end of 2007.

Kim Howells: The Afghan Government and their regional/international partners continue to work towards the benchmarks set out in the Afghanistan Compact. The Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB), which comprises members of the Government of Afghanistan and the international community is mandated under the Compact to keep all the benchmarks under regular review. An update on progress against the benchmarks is expected in May. The full details will be available on the Afghanistan National Development Strategy's website (www.ands.gov.af) under "JCMB".

Afghanistan: Prisons

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she expects prisons to have separate facilities for men, women and juveniles in Afghanistan by the end of 2010 in accordance with the target of the London Compact of 2006; what progress has been made towards the target; and what progress she expects to be made by the end of 2007.

Kim Howells: The female prison population in Afghanistan currently stands at approximately 300 persons, approximately 2 per cent. of the overall prison population. They are all detained in separate accommodation for women.
	In Afghan law, a juvenile is between the ages of 12 and 18. Juvenile detention is monitored by the UN Office of Drug Control. They report that a number of designated facilities currently exist, which are separate from prisons and other adult detention facilities. Adult males are detained separately from both women and juveniles.
	Work is ongoing on construction projects at Wardak, Lashkar Gah, and a new detention facility in Gereshk. Two other facilities, Mazar-e-Sharif and Gardez are being overseen through the UN Office of Drugs and Crime and should be completed end of 2007. All these new facilities will be fully compliant with UN minimum standards of prisoner accommodation.

Burma

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her European colleagues on the military dictatorship in Burma.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions on Burma with European colleagues.
	However, I raised Burma with EU and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) colleagues at the EU/ASEAN Ministerial meeting in Nuremberg on 15 March. I stressed at the meeting, which was attended by all ASEAN Nations including Burma, that the ongoing human rights abuses perpetrated by the Burmese government were unacceptable and should cease. A number of EU Partners also condemned the Burmese regime.

Chad: Refugees

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the situation in Chad; what action the Government is taking to avert a worsening of the situation in Chad; what discussions she has had with  (a) her counterparts on the United Nations Security Council and  (b) the British High Commission in Yaounde on the assessment of the situation by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Ian McCartney: The UK is in regular contact with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian agencies about the evolving situation in eastern Chad. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID) undertook a humanitarian assessment to eastern Chad in February. We are concerned at the increasing levels of internal displacement due to inter-ethnic fighting and cross-border attacks from Darfur, the protection of refugees, the security environment for humanitarian agency operations and the fragility of the natural resource base to support displaced populations. The UK, through DFID, is providing £4 million to support the humanitarian response to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) this year.
	Representatives from the FCO and our High Commission in Yaounde visit Chad regularly. A UK delegation, including a representative from our High Commission in Yaounde, visited N'Djamena from 19-22 February this year. The delegation met a wide range of interlocutors, including the Foreign Minister and senior officials of the Government of Chad, and the UNHCR representative. The delegation took every opportunity to impress on interlocutors:
	the need to improve Chad/Sudan relations and border security, in accordance with the Tripoli Agreement;
	the importance of the Government of Chad honouring its responsibility to the refugees and IDPs, and accepting the deployment of the UN to assist in achieving this objective;
	that we and the international community were looking to the Government of Chad to pursue dialogue with the rebel groups with a view to bringing Chad's internal rebellion to a peaceful conclusion.
	The UK continues to raise the humanitarian situation in Chad, including the plight of refugees and the internally displaced, in relevant Security Council consultations on a regular basis. We did this most recently on 27 February.
	Together with partners in the Security Council, we are urging the UN to develop a workable plan for a UN presence in Chad as proposed by UN Security Council Resolution 1706.

China: Abortion

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on forced abortions in China; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We are aware of reports of the maladministration of China's One Child Policy involving enforced sterilisation and abortions, including those highlighted by the human rights lawyer, Chen Guangcheng. While we do not question China's right or need to implement family planning policies, we have made it clear to the Chinese Government that we believe they should be based on the principles of consent and not coercion.

Cuba: Political Prisoners

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her estimate is of the number of political prisoners being held by the Cuban Government.

Geoff Hoon: It is difficult to estimate the number of political prisoners in Cuba as the Cuban Government maintains tight control over information about its prisons. However, Amnesty International currently recognises that there are at least 67 "prisoners of conscience" in Cuba and is currently reviewing the cases of dozens of other prisoners who could also be considered prisoners of conscience.
	In a report dated 9 January, the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCHRNR—a standard non-official source of human rights information in Cuba) documented 283 cases. The CCHRNR has also reported thousands of young Cubans who are imprisoned on the charge of "peligrosidad predelictiva", which means they have not committed a crime but are considered likely to do so. More information on the human rights situation in Cuba can be found in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 2006 Annual Human Rights Report at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/humanrights

Cuba: Political Prisoners

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations her Department has made to the Government of Cuba on the detention of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet.

Geoff Hoon: We remain extremely concerned about the plight of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet and other political prisoners in Cuba. We are particularly concerned about those political prisoners who, like Dr. Biscet, are reported to be suffering poor health yet are not provided with adequate medical treatment. Our embassy in Havana continues to monitor Dr. Biscet's case and maintains contact with his supporters and family. We regularly raise the situation of all political prisoners in Cuba with Cuban authorities both in London and Havana and call for their immediate release. During its most recent review of the EU's Common Position on Cuba in June 2006, the European Council once again
	"urged the Cuban Government to unconditionally release all political prisoners".
	More information on the human rights situation in Cuba, and on UK and EU actions, can be found in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 2006 Annual Human Rights Report, available at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/humanrights

Departments: Paper

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms are in place to ensure her Department's economical use of paper.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office through our intranet, environmental volunteers in directorates, and annual awareness raising campaigns encourages staff to rely where possible on paperless communications and to minimise the amount of paper consumed.

EC Action: Terrorism

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the  (a) terms of reference and  (b) membership are of the European Union's clearing house in respect of the addition and deletion of groups included on the list of terrorist organisations; what opportunities there are for (i) the organisations themselves and (ii) other non-government bodies (A) to have a hearing and (B) to submit evidence; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Council of the EU decided in 2001 to draw up a list of terrorist groups and individuals in order to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001), which obliges all UN member states to
	"freeze without delay funds and other financial assets or economic resources of persons who commit, or attempt to commit, terrorist acts or participate in or facilitate the commission of terrorist acts".
	The EU autonomous terrorist asset freezing regime was established under Council Common Position 2001/931/Common Foreign and Security Policy of 27 December 2001.
	The Council keeps the EU list of terrorist groups and individuals under continual review. Decisions to add or remove individuals or groups are made by the Council of Ministers.
	The EU has reviewed and improved its procedures for listing individuals and groups, taking full account of the judgment by the Court of First Instance of the European Communities on 12 December 2006. All groups listed since 12 December have been notified of the reasons for their inclusion on the list, and an explanation as to how the group can exercise its right to provide further information relevant to the case and/or petition for delisting.
	In addition to petitioning the Council for delisting, groups and individuals may also challenge their listing before the Court of First Instance of the European Communities.
	Other non-government bodies can also provide relevant information and/or evidence to the Council of the EU, by contacting the Council Secretariat.

Embassies: Ministers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she keeps a record of which Ministers have stayed at each British embassy or residence.

Margaret Beckett: Records of where Ministers stay on overseas visits are not held centrally. Obtaining the information the hon. Member requires would incur disproportionate cost.

Equatorial Guinea: Human Rights

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the human rights record of the government of Equatorial Guinea.

Ian McCartney: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes a close interest in the human rights situation in Equatorial Guinea, and raises concerns about human rights issues both bilaterally and through the regular EU dialogue with Equatorial Guinea.
	We continue to be extremely concerned about the lack of access to justice and lack of independence of the judiciary in Equatorial Guinea, following the trials of the alleged coup plotters in 2005. Arbitrary detention is common for political reasons, as well as criminal, and is sometimes imposed for apparently minor offences. Imprisonment without trial is also commonplace. Expatriates working on contracts in the country have been detained, not always in prison, in purely commercial disputes. Corruption and bribery is widespread throughout the judicial system. Nepotism is also rife, so resolving consular difficulties can be problematic and time consuming. Where trials do occur, they are often considered to be unfair. Amnesty International, which observed the coup trials in 2005, stated in its 2006 report that subsequent trials were also unfair, with defendants held incommunicado before the trial and reportedly convicted on the basis of confession statements extracted under torture.

Iran: Nuclear Weapons

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response she  (a) has made and  (b) plans to make to the European Commission's conclusion on Iran's future acquisition of sufficient weapons-grade uranium to make a nuclear weapon; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The European Council Secretariat prepared a "food for thought" paper, intended to stimulate discussion at the February meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The paper did not reflect a considered or shared EU analysis.
	Concerns about Iranian development of enrichment technology are pressing, but it is also clear that Iran is having difficulty in mastering enrichment technology. We still have time to make diplomacy work, and a renewed suspension of enrichment-related activity is still relevant and important.
	The UK and the rest of the EU remain fully committed to finding a negotiated solution and to prevent Iran from acquiring the means to produce nuclear weapons, through stepping up pressure on Iran to comply with United Nation Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors requirements while keeping generous proposals on the table. We have seen that Security Council Resolution 1737 has stimulated a debate inside Iran about the cost of the course on which the regime has set the country. A further resolution imposing additional incremental measures is under discussion in the Security Council.

Iraq: Oil

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings officials from her Department have held with international oil companies since January 2003 at which Iraq was discussed; and who was present at each meeting.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave to him on 19 February,  Official Report, columns 399-400W. Meetings with oil companies since 2003 have involved a wide range of Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials.

Marc Swanson

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress her officials have made in their inquiries of the Ministry of Justice in Brazil on the disappearance of Marc Swanson in 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Our officials in London and Brazil are continuing to press the Brazilian Ministry of Justice for information about the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Marc Swanson. We will continue to do all we properly can to ensure that the authorities are doing everything possible to trace him. Officials continue to maintain contact with the local police and will ensure the family are kept fully up to date.

Marie Therese Nlandu

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has received on the imprisonment of Marie Thèrese Nlandu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ian McCartney: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a number of letters from members of the public and hon. Members on the detention of Mme Nlandu. There have also been several parliamentary questions on the case.

Namibia

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Government Ministers visited Namibia in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006.

Ian McCartney: No Government Ministers visited Namibia in 2005 or 2006.

Namibia: Land Redistribution

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Namibian government on land redistribution in Namibia.

Ian McCartney: Our high commission in Windhoek has regular discussions with the Government of Namibia, including over the issue of land redistribution. In the areas of land reform and restitution, the Government of Namibia are officially committed to a constitutional and market-based process of land reform through the willing buyer, willing seller principle. The Department for International Development has previously funded assistance on the technical aspects of Land Reform, in collaboration with Germany, by supporting the work of the Namibian Ministry of Land's permanent technical team. Although the UK no longer has a bilateral aid programme in Namibia, areas such as land reform continue to be supported, through our contribution to the European Commission.

Namibia: Zimbabwe

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Foreign Minister of Namibia on Zimbabwe.

Ian McCartney: Our High Commission in Windhoek regularly raises Zimbabwe with Namibian Government Ministers and the Government of Namibia is well aware of our views. Zimbabwe was most recently discussed on 22 February when the Heads of EU Missions in Windhoek met the Namibian Deputy Foreign Minister.

North Korea: Nuclear Weapons

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the access given to North Korean nuclear facilities for International Atomic Energy Agency director Mohamed el-Baradei.

Ian McCartney: Dr. el-Baradei visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 13-14 March. He said during a press briefing on 5 March that the purpose of his visit would be twofold. Firstly, to consider normalisation of relations between the DPRK and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and secondly, to make arrangements for IAEA personnel to carry out inspections, as agreed at the latest round of Six Party Talks on 13 February.
	Further details on Dr. el-Baradei's visit to the DPRK can be found on the IAEA website at:
	http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/IaeaDprk/index.shtml.

North Korea: Nuclear Weapons

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role she expects the United Kingdom to play in ensuring North Korea dismantles its nuclear weapons programme; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The agreement reached by the participants in the Six Party Talks on 13 February is a step in the right direction towards the peaceful denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. The UK bilaterally and the EU will take every opportunity to urge the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to fulfil the commitments it has entered into. However, we remain profoundly concerned by the nuclear test conducted on 9 October 2006 and look to the DPRK to stop all activities of concern as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1718. Meanwhile the sanctions remain in place.

North Korea: Nuclear Weapons

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response she has made to the decision taken by North Korea to commence a nuclear disarmament programme; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We welcome the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) commitment to shut down and seal the Yongbyon nuclear facility and invite back International Atomic Energy Agency personnel to monitor the agreement. This is an essential first step towards the goal of full denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. The UK bilaterally and the EU will continue to urge the DPRK to fulfil the commitments it has entered into. We remain profoundly concerned by the nuclear test conducted on 9 October 2006 and look to the DPRK to stop all activities of concern as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1718. Meanwhile, the sanctions remain in place.

Pakistan: Entry Clearances

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff at HM High Commission, Islamabad, are employed to work full-time on immigration matters.

Kim Howells: At present there are 245 staff employed full-time on Immigration matters in our High Commission in Islamabad.

Pakistan: Entry Clearances

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what average time was taken between the receipt by HM high commission, Islamabad of a registered appeal against the refusal of entry clearance and a review being completed by an entry clearance manager in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: During January to February 2007, the most recent period for which the information is available, the average time taken between receipt of a registered appeal and a review being completed at our visa section in Islamabad is approximately six weeks.

Poland

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans she has to visit Poland.

Geoff Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary currently has no plans to visit Poland. However, she met the Polish Foreign Minister Fotyga in London on 19 March.

Security Guards

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contracts were awarded by her Department to private military security companies for work in  (a) Iraq,  (b) Afghanistan and  (c) other countries in each of the last five years; what the (i) value and (ii) purpose was of each such contract; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a duty of care to its staff and to ensure that all contracts are subject to rigorous selection so that we obtain full value for money. Any company engaged by the Department needs to pass through a stringent and transparent procurement process in line with Public Procurement Guidelines.
	The information in the table covers contracts put in place by the FCO with private security companies, and reflects the contract values concerned and not the actual spend. Many of these contracts, most notably those in Iraq and Afghanistan, also cover other Government Departments with the costs thereof being shared out accordingly.
	The FCO has in excess of 200 posts and operates a devolved budgetary system for the contracting of security services, with the exception of certain posts in hostile/high-threat environments (in the table), therefore complete central records of contracts with private security companies are not maintained.
	Each post would need to be contacted to provide details of the companies used and the value of each security contract. Such office-wide outreach would require significant resource, in excess of the current threshold for disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Purpose  Value (£ per annum) 
			  Iraq   
			 2003-04 Static and Mobile Security 16,800,000 
			 2004-05 Static and Mobile Security 49,500,000 
			 2005-06 Static and Mobile Security 47,800,000 
			 2006-07 Static and Mobile Security 30,400,000 
			 2004-07 Provision of Police Mentors and Advisers to the Government 19,900,000 
			
			  Afghanistan   
			 2004 Mobile Security, Training 4,000,000 
			 2005 Mobile Security, Training 4,000,000 
			 2006 Mobile Security, Training 15,000,000 
			 2007 Static and Mobile Security (including Other Government Departments) 19,600,000 
			 2006-07 Provision of Police Mentors and Advisers to the Government 511,000 
			
			  Other countries   
			  Saudi Arabia   
			 2004-05 Static Security (Riyadh) 1,500,000 
			 2005-06 Static Security (Riyadh and Jeddah) 2,500,000 
			 2006-07 Static Security (Riyadh and Jeddah)—contract to be re-tendered pre-expiration, September 2007 2,500,000 
			
			  Hong Kong, Beijing, Moscow, Cairo (Joint Contract)   
			 2003-07 Static Guarding 4,200,000

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking in relation to recent clashes between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government.

Kim Howells: I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton-Brown) on 13 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 246- 47W. The UK urges both sides to the conflict to pursue a peaceful solution and to do more to protect the civilian population.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations her Department has received on the conflict in Sri Lanka.

Kim Howells: We receive frequent representations from hon. Members, members of the Sri Lankan diaspora and non-governmental organisations on the conflict in Sri Lanka. These representations reflect a wide variety of views.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with EU counterparts on the conflict in Sri Lanka.

Kim Howells: The EU, as one of the co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference, has a key role to play in the Sri Lankan peace process. Officials in London, Brussels and at our high commission in Colombo are in frequent contact with the German EU Presidency, EU partners and the European Commission.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the recent clashes between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan Government.

Kim Howells: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to him on 14 March 2007,  Official Report, column 283, and to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton-Brown) on 13 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 246-247W.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking in relation to recent reports of human rights abuses against Tamils by the Sri Lankan Government.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade spoke at the fourth session of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva this month about the need for the Sri Lankan Government to move forward with the effective investigation of human rights violations and to hold those perpetrating such acts to account. There should be no immunity for human rights violators.
	I also refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton-Brown) on 13 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 246-247W.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Foreign Secretary of  (a) Libya,  (b) Egypt and  (c) Chad on the Darfur Region of Sudan.

Ian McCartney: The UK's ambassador-at-large for the Sudanese Peace Process, Christopher Prentice, met the Chadian Foreign Minister on 20 February. He also met senior representatives of the Government of Libya on 21 February.
	The UK's Permanent Representative-designate to the UN in New York, John Sawers, discussed Darfur with a range of senior interlocutors in Egypt on 4 to 5 March. And my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, met the Egyptian Ambassador on 6 March.
	With all our interlocutors we emphasise the need for an immediate ceasefire in Darfur, an early resumption of the political process there, and the rapid implementation of the UN support package for the African Union Mission in Sudan, culminating in the formation of the hybrid force.

Sudan: Chad

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Governments of Sudan and Chad to try to reduce border tensions.

Ian McCartney: We take every opportunity to press both Sudan and Chad to stop supporting each other's rebels and to fulfil their obligations under the Tripoli Agreement. Our ambassador-designate to the United Nations in New York, John Sawers, did so in meetings with the Government of Sudan on 6 March. And Christopher Prentice, our ambassador-at-large for the Sudanese Peace Process, raised the issue in meetings with the Government of Chad on 20 February. Given the importance of this issue, we will continue to press both Governments on this matter. We also regularly discuss Sudan and Chad with our partners in the Security Council and with regional Governments such as Libya.
	I raised a range of issues with the Sudanese Minister for Justice in a meeting with him in the margins of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 14 March.

Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in introducing the new UN-AU hybrid force into Darfur.

Ian McCartney: The UN-African Union (AU) hybrid force for Darfur will be the final part of a three-phase approach to increasing UN support to the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) agreed in Addis Ababa in November last year. The initial stage (the Light Support Package) has been partially deployed. The AU and UN have agreed on the details of the second stage (the Heavy Support Package), but have been waiting, since 24 January, for President Bashir's acceptance of these. The UN's Department of Peace-Keeping Operations is working with the AU to finalise details of the Hybrid force.
	My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, visited New York last month to press the UN for more rapid action to implement the support package for AMIS. We have passed the same message to the AU. In the meanwhile we remain committed to supporting the AU force, to which we have committed over £65 million since its inception.

Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her Namibian counterpart on the progress of the African Union in dealing with the humanitarian situation in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: The issue of Darfur is raised through our high commission in Windhoek, as part of a regular dialogue on African peacekeeping issues. The issue was discussed most recently on 22 February, when heads of EU missions met the Namibian Deputy Foreign Minister in Windhoek.

Timor-Leste: Homicide

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the President of Indonesia to request that Indonesia's former Information Minister, Yunus Yosfiah, give his account of events in Balibo in October 1975 to the Court following the request of the Deputy Coroner made during the inquest in New South Wales into the death of Brian Peters; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Australian Government has not sought our help with the inquest. We have previously made representations on the Balibo case to the Indonesian government and they are aware of our position.

Timor-Leste: Politics and Government

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of  (a) the latest security situation in Timor-Leste and  (b) the likelihood of (i) the Presidential and (ii) Parliamentary elections being conducted in a free and fair manner; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Our Embassy in Jakarta covers Timor-Leste. The Embassy deployed a team of four officials to Dili on 7 March to assess the situation on the ground. They reported that Dili was calm at the time of their arrival, but that the security situation remains fragile and susceptible to change at any moment.
	We are concerned by the deterioration of the security situation in Timor-Leste and the resulting casualties and have urged all concerned to bring an end to the violence and resolve the problems within the framework of the constitution and laws.
	Eight candidates have registered for the Presidential elections scheduled for 9 April and the date of the Parliamentary elections will be set after this date. The UN Mission to Timor-Leste (UNMIT) has been working to ensure that the elections take place on time and there has been no indication that they are likely to be postponed. UNMIT will provide trained and experienced election monitors to ensure that the elections are carried out in a fair and open manner.

Whales: Conservation

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to her counterparts in  (a) Japan,  (b) Norway and  (c) Iceland on full-scale commercial whaling; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: I have made no representations to my counterparts in Japan, Norway and Iceland.
	The departmental lead on this subject lies with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Officials from DEFRA and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in daily contact regarding whaling, and work in tandem to lobby governments and to publicise the need for whale conservation.
	UK officials at the International Whaling Commission meeting in June 2006 were at the forefront of the opposition to Japan's unsuccessful attempts to overturn the international moratorium on commercial whaling. In December 2006, the UK joined a demarche of 27 countries requesting Japan to reconsider its planned whaling programme for 2007.
	The UK has consistently opposed Norway's commercial whaling programme. In April 2006, the UK led a demarche against Norway's announcement of a record increase in the number of North Atlantic minke whales they planned to catch last year. As it transpired, Norway only caught 546 of its planned catch of 1,052.
	The UK led the international condemnation of Iceland's decision to resume commercial whaling. In November 2006, our British ambassador in Reykjavik led a demarche of 25 countries plus the European Commission, making clear the extreme disappointment felt by those parties at Iceland's decision, and urging Iceland to abandon its current operations. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare (Mr. Bradshaw), summoned the Icelandic ambassador to protest in the strongest possible terms against Iceland's activities.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the detention of Morgan Tsvangirai and other figures from the Movement for Democratic Change by the Zimbabwean government; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Our ambassador in Harare and officials from the embassy, together with other members of the diplomatic community, have sought access to those detained following the violent suppression of the Save Zimbabwe Campaign prayer meeting on 11 March, as well as visiting the hospitals where the injured are being treated, and reported back on the horrific torture some of those have been subject too, including opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
	As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, have already made clear in their statements, we utterly condemn the violent and unwarranted action taken by the Government of Zimbabwe on 11 March and hold Mugabe and his government responsible for the safety of all those detained. The Zimbabwean ambassador was called into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 13 March to hear the UK's condemnation at first hand, and we have met leaders of Zimbabwe's trade unions to express support for their civil rights. We have urged the Zimbabwe authorities to allow all those still detained access to legal advice and all necessary medical care, and to arrange for their immediate release.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with counterparts within the United Nations Security Council of the implications of the situation in Zimbabwe for international peace and security.

Ian McCartney: We keep in touch with members of the UN Security Council about the situation in Zimbabwe, and encourage the UN to stay focused on all aspects of the appalling conditions in Zimbabwe. We welcome the UN Secretary-General's condemnation of the recent arrest and beating of legitimate protestors in Zimbabwe, and the 13 March statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Commonwealth Secretariat on measures to engage with  (a) government and  (b) civil society groups in Zimbabwe on resolving the situation in that country.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary briefed the Commonwealth Secretary-General on 30 January about the situation in the country. However, Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in December 2003 and there is currently no formal engagement between the two. Before Zimbabwe can rejoin and enjoy the support of the Commonwealth, it will need to satisfy all Commonwealth members it is meeting the basic human rights and governance principles as set out in the Harare Commonwealth declaration. As the dire current situation in Zimbabwe clearly demonstrates, it is a long way from doing so.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received from South Africa on a joint strategy with the EU for resolving the situation in Zimbabwe.

Ian McCartney: None. However, there have been regular discussions between the UK and South Africa about the appalling situation in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will hold discussions with  (a) the South African Development Community and  (b) EU member states on (i) the use of incentives and disincentives in support of a co-ordinated international strategy on the situation in Zimbabwe and (ii) development of a new constitution, repeal of repressive laws and holding of internationally supervised presidential and parliamentary elections.

Ian McCartney: The EU Common Position was renewed in February. It consists of targeted measures applied in response to the human rights abuses committed by the Government of Zimbabwe. We will continue to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe with EU partners in Harare and Brussels. Zimbabwe is a regular subject in the EU's dialogue with the South African Development Community (SADC) and with individual SADC members. However, the SADC has shown no desire to engage with the EU in a co-ordinated international strategy of the kind suggested by the hon. Member. We and the EU will continue to raise the issues with them.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will seek discussions with the South African Development Community on  (a) a joint strategy on timelines and benchmarks to be met by Zimbabwean authorities in restoring and implementing a democratic process and  (b) negotiations towards an exit strategy.

Ian McCartney: We have encouraged South African Development Community (SADC) member states and in particular members of the SADC troika, (Lesotho, Botswana and Zambia) to urge the Government of Zimbabwe to undertake the wide-ranging political and economic reform to address the current crisis, so as to avoid further violence and economic collapse. We have intensified these contacts in recent days.

HEALTH

Alliance Medical: Screening

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diagnostic scans were performed through the contract with Alliance Medical in each region in each year since it began; and what proportion this represents of scans agreed in the contract.

Andy Burnham: The information is not available in the format requested. The total number of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans performed through the contract with Alliance Medical to the end of January 2007 was 214,000. The contract, which is for a period of five years, is for 606,000 MRI scans in total.

Bedfordshire Primary Care Trust: Finance

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations her Department received on the establishment of a local improvement finance trust within the area of the Bedfordshire Primary Care Trust; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The Department have received no representations from Bedfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) about the establishment of their NHS local improvement finance trust (LIFT). Bedfordshire PCT, with their public sector partners, are progressing with establishing their LIFT company. They have selected their preferred partner and are working towards financial close.

Blood: Screening

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will make international normalised ratio blood testing a requirement under the GP contract;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of GP practices which have ceased international normalised ratio blood testing following the introduction of the new GP contract; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  if she will take steps to ensure that the international normalised ratio blood tests are available from GPs; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: International normalised ratio blood testing is currently delivered in general practice as part of the national enhanced service which primary care trusts (PCTs) are able to commission as a more specialised service. As these services are commissioned locally by individual PCTs, we have no central information on the number of general practitioner practices providing this service.

Breast Cancer: Medical Treatments

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many breast cancer treatments have been recommended for use by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence since its creation.

Rosie Winterton: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has positively appraised the following treatments for breast cancer:
	Capecitabine for locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer
	Docetaxel for early and advanced breast cancer
	Gemcitabine for metastatic breast cancer
	Hormonal treatments (anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole) for early breast cancer
	Paclitaxel for advanced breast cancer
	Trastuzumab for early and advanced breast cancer
	Vinorelbine for advanced breast cancer

Breast Cancer: Screening

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has  (a) received and  (b) considered the Report by the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances into the value of breast cancer screening of over 70s; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The report into the evidence of extending breast screening to women aged over 70 as part of the national health service breast screening programme was commissioned by the Department's policy research programme on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening (ACBCS).
	The final report is currently being peer reviewed. Once the peer review process is complete the report and peer review comments will be considered by the ACBCS. They will make a judgment as to whether the report provides sufficiently robust evidence to support screening women over 70 or whether further work is necessary. They will advise Ministers as appropriate.

Colorectal Cancer: Screening

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients have been screened under the bowel cancer screening programme, broken down by centre; how many people within the target 60 to 69 age group it is estimated have yet to be screened at each centre; and what the timetable is for completing the first screening within the target age group;
	(2)  what plans she has to publish an assessment of the bowel cancer screening programme;
	(3)  when each centre began screening for bowel cancer;
	(4)  if she will introduce a screening programme for bowel cancer for everyone over 50 years of age.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is in the table.
	As at 19 February 2007, 52 per cent. of men and women had returned their testing kits. This figure is likely to rise as kits are being sent out all the time and there is a time lag between people receiving and returning the kits.
	Local screening centres cover populations of around 500,000 people. Men and women in their 60s in these populations are invited to be screened on a general practitioner practice basis over a two year period. For each two year screening round we would expect each local screening centre to invite 50,000 people for screening. It is estimated that full national roll-out of the programme in England will be achieved by December 2009. All eligible men and women will therefore have been invited for screening by December 2011.
	The national health service bowel cancer screening programme is in the relatively early stages of roll-out. We will consider publishing an assessment of the programme when roll-out is more complete.
	The bowel cancer screening programme is beginning by inviting men and women aged 60 to 69 to be screened as the risk of bowel cancer increases with age, with over 80 per cent. of bowel cancers arising in people who are 60 or over. The successful NHS pilot study also showed that men and women in their 60s were more likely to take up their invitations for screening than men and women in their 50s. Within the programme men and women aged 70 and over are able to self-refer for screening every two years.
	When we have rolled out the programme to the whole of England, we will make an assessment of whatever next steps may be required, including looking at the age range.
	
		
			  National health service bowel cancer screening programme—activity to 19 February 2007 
			Number of:  
			  Programme hub  Local screening centre  Invitations sent out to 60 to 69-year -olds  People aged 70 and over self- referring for screening  Total 
			 West Midlands and North West (Rugby—started April 2006) Wolverhampton (started July 2006) 20,581 200 20,781 
			  Norwich (started July 2006) 21,946 1,616 23,562 
			  Liverpool (started September 2006) 18,042 264 18,306 
			  Bolton (started February 2007) 1,050 0 1,050 
			  
			 Southern (Guildford—started September 2006) South Devon (started September 2006) 11,405 123 11,528 
			  Gloucestershire (started January 2007) 4,378 128 4,506 
			  
			 London (St. Mark's, Harrow—started October 2006) St Mark's, Harrow (started October 2006) 12,204 67 12,271 
			  South West London St. George's—started November 2006) 6,479 77 6,556 
			  
			 North East (Gateshead started February 2007) South Tyne (started February 2007) 1,897 0 1,897 
			  Tees (started February 2007) 1,433 0 1,433 
			  
			 Eastern (Nottingham— due to start March 2007) — — — — 
			 Total  99,415 2,475 101,890

Community Nurses: Cumbria

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) district and  (b) community nurses were employed by Cumbria Primary Care Trust in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services: qualified community nursing staff in each specified organisation 
			  Headcount 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Total specified organisations 487 533 529 662 677 
			   
			 Carlisle and District Primary Care Trust total 193 197 205 228 228 
			 District nurses 35 19 31 32 29 
			 Health visitors 30 4 19 34 33 
			 School nursing nurses (1)— (1)— (1)— 13 10 
			 General practitioner practice nurses 59 58 57 59 59 
			 Other qualified community services nurses 69 116 98 90 97 
			   
			 Eden Valley PCT Total 104 118 127 150 153 
			 District nurses 9 12 16 28 25 
			 Health visitors 21 1 6 10 9 
			 School nursing nurses (1)— (1)— (1)— 4 3 
			 General practitioner practice nurses 35 43 33 39 39 
			 Other qualified community services nurses 39 62 72 69 77 
			   
			 West Cumbria PCT Total 190 218 197 284 296 
			 District nurses 56 46 36 44 39 
			 Health visitors 17 25 14 41 39 
			 School nursing nurses (1)— (1)— (1)— 10 8 
			 General practitioner practice nurses 72 78 83 87 80 
			 Other qualified community services nurses 45 69 64 102 130 
			 (1 )Not applicable. Returns for school nursing staff did not become mandatory until the 2004 census.   Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census.

Community Nurses: Cumbria

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were referred to  (a) district and  (b) community nurses in Cumbria in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally.

Dementia: Research

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Government funding was provided for research into  (a) prevention,  (b) treatment and  (c) cure of dementia in each of the last five years; and what percentage of the health budget this represented in each year.

Ivan Lewis: The most recent information available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Expenditure on dementia research (£ million)  
			   Department of Health  Medical Research Council  Total  Percentage of total national health service expenditure 
			 2000-01 4.7 8.2 12.9 0.03 
			 2001-02 2.9 6.6 9.5 0.02 
			 2002-03 1.6 6.6 8.2 0.02 
			 2003-04 1.1 7.4 8.5 0.01 
			 2004-05 0.6 6.2 6.8 0.01 
		
	
	The departmental figures relate to national research programme expenditure. They do not include the part of the research and development allocations made annually to NHS providers that has been spent on dementia research. This information and information on the breakdown of funding for research into the prevention, treatment and cure of dementia is not held centrally.

Dentists: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) England have exhausted their 2006-07 NHS budgets.

Rosie Winterton: Primary care trusts (PCT) in England do not award dental providers an annual budget but an annual contract value, which is payable in equal monthly instalments, in return for an agreed level of service. Service levels may be defined by an annual number of units of dental activity (which are a weighted measure of courses of treatment), or they may include service outputs that cannot be measured through courses of treatment. All contract payments will be honoured if the dental provider delivers their agreed service levels. The Department does not assess the performance of individual dental providers. PCTs, as the commissioning bodies, are responsible for monitoring the delivery of services by their local dental providers. Dental services in Eastbourne are the responsibility of the East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT.

Departments: Appeals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by her Department and its executive agencies in  (a) 1997-98,  (b) 2001-02 and  (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

Ivan Lewis: The Department had no independent appeal panels.
	Appeals against the Department's decisions (final stage complaints) are dealt with by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
	The Department used the services of an independent reviewer for a single case in 2006.
	Executive agencies are independent organisations with their own complaints procedures and administration. The two Executive agencies are the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
	PASA has not had any independent bodies to hear appeals. Complaints about maladministration of non-procurement activity are governed by the Parliamentary Ombudsman. Legal options are available to suppliers if commercial complaints are not resolved by PASA's complaints procedure.
	Throughout the period between 1997 and 2005, the MHRA had five independent advisory bodies set up to hear appeals on technical decisions made by the agency. These were the Committee on Safety of Devices, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), the Medicines Commission (CM) and the Independent Review Panel for Borderline products; the Independent Review Panel for Advertising. In October 2005, the CSM and the MC were disbanded and a new body, the Commission for Human Medicines replaced them.

Departments: Complaints

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints were received by her Department and its executive agencies in  (a) 1997-98,  (b) 2001-02 and  (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

Ivan Lewis: The Department cannot identify complaints figures for 1997-98 and 2001-02 except at disproportionate cost.
	Volumes of complaints are calculated by calendar year, not financial year.
	There is a separate complaints procedure for complaints involving the national health service and social care. This is completely independent of the Department.
	The total number of inquiries dealt with by the head of complaints in 2005 was 339, of which most were not categorised as complaints about the Department and its work. The total for 2006 was 256.
	From 1 January 2007 to 26 February we have received five complaints.
	The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) is one of the Department's two Executive agencies. Executive agencies respond to complaints received about their work.
	
		
			   Number of reports available 
			 1997-98 0 
			 2001-02 4 
			 2005-06 11 
			 2006-07 7 
		
	
	PASA logs as complaints only those where they have a specific issue relating to the performance or specific activity by the agency rather than complaints about policy.
	
		
			  The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) 
			   Number of reports available 
			 1997-98 2 
			 2001-02 2 
			 2005-06 4 
			 2006-07 3 
		
	
	These are formal complaints that were referred to the central complaints officer to deal with. MHRA does not have records of complaints that were dealt with at local level for these periods.

Departments: Freedom of Information

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary for Constitutional Affairs (Vera Baird) on 22 February 2007,  Official Report, column 866W.

Departments: Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what her Department's total expenditure on centrally funded  (a) initiatives,  (b) services and  (c) special allocations was in each year since 1997-98; and what anticipated expenditure is in 2006-07;
	(2)  what the  (a) titles and  (b) values are of the programmes which were transferred from her Department's central budget to the NHS budget in each year since 1997.

Andy Burnham: Tables have been placed in the Library and they provide:
	(a) listings of all allocations by budget title and value to national health service organisations from 1997-98 to 2005-06;
	(b) total expenditure of the centrally funded, initiatives services and special allocations programme from 1997-98 to 2005-06;
	(c) special allocations issued with initial allocations from 1997-98 to 2005-06; and
	(d) special allocations and associated budgets issued to NHS organisations as additional allocations (and which are included in the tables described in (a) and (b) above).
	There is no recognised division in the centrally funded initiatives services and special allocations programme between initiatives and services.
	Full year 2006-07 information on centrally funded initiatives services and special allocations is not yet available, but the 2006-07 Departmental Report which has a provisional publication date of May 2007 will provide a breakdown of the main budget lines.
	The tables correct the information given in answer to the hon. Member for the Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 5 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1693W.

Dermatology

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) names and  (b) job titles are of the officials within her Department who have responsibility for overseeing the delivery of dermatology services.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not have any officials who solely focus on overseeing the delivery of dermatology services. Responsibility for general oversight of the delivery of the Department's public service agreement targets rests with the Department's recovery and support unit. The accountable Director-General is Mr. Duncan Selbie.

Diabetes: Young People

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she issues to  (a) GPs,  (b) primary care trusts and  (c) other health professionals on support for children and students with diabetes.

Rosie Winterton: The national service frameworks (NSFs) for diabetes and for children, young people and maternity services were issued in 2001 and 2003-04 respectively. The diabetes NSF highlights the need to improve diabetes services for children and young people so that all children and young people with diabetes, their families and others involved in the their day-to-day care are supported; to optimise the control of diabetes and to enhance their physical, psychological, intellectual, educational and social development.
	The Department and the Department for Education and Skills issued the joint publication Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings in 2005. It recommends that schools, supported by their local authorities and local health professionals, develop policies on managing medicines and put in place effective management systems to support individual children with medical needs, including diabetes.
	A report by the children and young people's diabetes services working group will be published shortly. This will act as an implementation support tool to enable the commissioning and evaluation of service delivery necessary to meet the commitments set out in the NSFs. It includes issues such as support in schools, transition from children's to adults health services, structured education, psychological support, family support and monitoring for complications including retinal screening.

Dietary Supplements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will press the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) to extend the maximum permitted derogation period under the food supplement directive for those supplements where EFSA has not completed its assessment of submitted evidence dossiers.

Caroline Flint: The European Commission (EC) will be contacted shortly regarding the current deadline for European Food Standards Agency to have completed its assessment of dossiers submitted in accordance with the food supplements directive, and for decisions to have been taken by the EC Standing Committee for the addition of substances to the annexes in the food supplements directive, and for this deadline to be reviewed.

Drugs: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent in Lancashire on anti-drug initiatives in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: Information is not available on drug treatment spend prior to 2001 when the Department and the Home Office commenced the specific allocation for drug treatment in the form of the pooled drug treatment budget (PTB)
	The table shows the PTB funding allocated to Lancashire in each year since 2002-03, when data were first available.
	The following pooled drug treatment budgets were allocated to the Lancashire drug action team (DAT) for the years 2002-07.
	
		
			   Pooled drug treatment budget allocation to Lancashire DAT (£000) 
			 2002-03 3,061 
			 2003-04 3,890 
			 2004-05 4,259 
			 2005-06 5,161 
			 2006-07 6,633

Drugs: Misuse

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate of the numbers of problematic drug users and those accessing treatment formed the basis of the drug pooled treatment budget allocation for 2007-08 in Enfield; and what the latest estimate is following the research commissioned from the University of Glasgow produced in 2006.

Caroline Flint: In previous years the pooled drug treatment budget (PTB) has been allocated using a formula based on an estimate of population need, linked to social and economic factors, known as the York formula. For 2007-08, the York formula continues to determine the majority of the PTB allocation formula. In 2007-08 the PTB indicative allocations also includes a small element of redistribution from those areas who currently receive a high level of Government contribution to the cost of treatment per person treated, to areas where the contribution is significantly lower. Nationally, this will mean a distribution of funding that is flatter per person treated than has previously been the case. For Enfield, the projected number of individuals in drug treatment in 2006-07 is 604. These figures are based on April to December data from the national drug treatment monitoring system.
	The Government contribution per person treated in Enfield in 2006-07 was the second highest in England at £4,191. The contribution per person treated in 2007-08 will be £3,954, compared with the national average of £2,300 and the London average of £2,582.
	The latest estimate for problematic drug users in Enfield, from the University of Glasgow data is £1,409. This figure is for problematic users of heroin and crack cocaine only and was not used in the calculations for the 2007-08 PTB.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people underwent drug detoxification within NHS  (a) run and  (b) funded facilities in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: The national drug treatment monitoring system (NDTMS) records the number of individuals in national health service funded treatment in England. During 2004-05, since when this data has been available, there were 5,472 instances of in-patient detoxification reported to NDTMS and during 2005-06 there were 6,461. It is not possible to distinguish NHS run and non-statutory in-patient detoxification services.
	Under-reporting of data to NDTMS is significant for in-patient treatment.
	 Note
	Over half of drug detoxification takes place on general medical or psychiatric wards, which do not contribute data to NDTMS.

Eastbourne Hospital

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been allocated to Eastbourne district general hospital for burns care services in 2007-08.

Rosie Winterton: Eastbourne district hospital is not a provider of specialised burn care services and therefore there are no plans to allocate any central monies for burn care to this hospital in 2007-08.
	The Queen Victoria hospital in East Grinstead acts as the provider of specialised burn care services in the NHS south-east coast region.

Eating Disorders

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she plans to take over the next two years to tackle eating disorders.

Rosie Winterton: We take the issue of eating disorders, especially among young people, very seriously. This is why the Department asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to produce a clinical guideline on the core interventions in the treatment and management of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and related eating disorders, which NICE published in 2004. The guideline covers physical and psychological treatments, treatment with medicines, and information specifically for patients, carers and the general public. The guideline is due for review in January 2008.
	In the four years to the end of March 2007, we will have invested over £400 million of additional money into the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) provided by the national health service and local authorities. These funds will assist in meeting and maintaining the Department's public service agreement (PSA) standard of a comprehensive CAMHS, including services for young people with an eating disorder. Further funds totalling £134 million have been made available to the NHS and local authorities in 2006-07 to help achieve a comprehensive CAMHS in every area by the end of 2006 and ensure that it is maintained thereafter.
	As primary care trusts (PCTs) consider local health needs and commissioned services, they will need to assess whether the right balance exists between in-patient care and home-based care, particularly at a highly specialised levels, to help individuals with eating disorders. This means that PCTs will need to consider their commissioning role, where they work with local organisations and opportunities exist to commission services jointly—for example, where voluntary organisations can provide services more effectively than statutory services.
	We made a manifesto commitment in 2005 to increase the provision of psychological therapies. This followed 2001 Department guidelines on treatment choice in psychological therapies which included eating disorders, and 2004 guidance, "Organising and Delivering Psychological Therapies", to help local services to understand best practice and how to organise local services to support access. Last year we embarked on a new programme, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, (IAPT), to provide more effective and timely access to psychological therapies for people with mild to moderate mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. IAPT's two national demonstration sites in Newham and Doncaster, and a national programme of regional projects, will complete their work by March 2008 but interim results are showing positive gains in health and wellbeing in many of the 3,500 people already referred to the service.
	Between 2004 and 2009, the Department is also funding a five-year initiative, Shift, to tackle the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health issues in England. Shift works with young people and professionals to promote awareness of all mental health problems, including eating disorders.
	We fund several voluntary sector organisations involved with eating disorders, including Weight Concern and beat, formerly the Eating Disorder Association for whom we are funding a three-year pathways to recovery project, which provides a support network of people who have had eating disorders. This project, which began in June 2006, will receive £131,000 over its three-year duration. The Department is also considering whether we can undertake further research into eating disorders through the National Institute for Health Research, about which I hope to make an announcement in the near future.

Family Planning

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of closure of specialist family planning clinics on the availability to general practitioners of training in contraceptive services.

Rosie Winterton: Funding arrangements are a matter for primary care trusts who must be free to prioritise their local funding according to local needs. The Government do however acknowledge the key role specialist contraception services play in providing training to other contraceptive providers and in particular the role they play in supporting general practice. We recognise the need to increase the numbers of sexual and reproductive health consultants and the Department is working closely with the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare to ensure workforce capacity is available for the future.

General Practitioners

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which patient and public interest groups responded to the Good Doctors, Safer Patients public consultation.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 5 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1686W, to the hon. Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor).

Health Services: Greater London

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has carried out a race equality impact assessment of the reductions in budgets for 2007-08 for  (a) South London and Maudsley NHS Trust,  (b) Southwark Primary Care Trust and  (c) Lambeth Primary Care Trust.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 19 March 2007
	Strategic health authorities (SHAs) should work in partnership with their primary care trusts and local health providers to determine how best to use the funds allocated, to meet national and local priorities for improving health, to tackle health inequalities and modernise services. It is for local national health service bodies to assess the effect of their decisions, including their effect on particular parts of their local population.
	All NHS organisations are currently in the process of finalising their financial plans for 2007-08. We have made clear in the 2007-08 NHS operating framework that SHAs will not generally require the scale of contribution to SHA reserves seen in 2006-07 because of the return of the NHS to overall financial balance this year.

Health Services: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff in Lancashire have received training in communication with children.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally.

Health Services: Private Sector

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the amount the NHS will pay to private healthcare providers in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2012-13.

Andy Burnham: National health service spend on private healthcare providers will be determined by the choices made by patients and those who commission services locally on their behalf.
	As the NHS financial planning process for 2007-08 is not yet complete, it is not yet possible to provide an estimate of this category of expenditure. Funding for the NHS beyond 2007-08 has not yet been agreed with HM Treasury.

Health Services: Private Sector

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will assess the applicability of European competition law to  (a) the future configuration of clinical services provided by private sector contractors and  (b) capacity of her Department to intervene in support of such services.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 19 March 2007
	We do not believe it would be appropriate for the Department to conduct such an assessment. Whether and if European Union competition law applies to the configuration of clinical services provided by private sector contractors is a matter for the EU authorities.

Heart Diseases: Accident and Emergency Departments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many major accident and emergency departments in England offer primary angioplasty.

Rosie Winterton: Primary angioplasty is carried out in a catheter laboratory by a team of professionals including a cardiologist with training in angioplasty techniques, cardiac nurse and scientific and technical staff. It does not take place in an accident and emergency department although some hospitals have a catheter laboratory, which is situated close to the emergency department.
	There are currently about 30 centres able to offer primary angioplasty, and 50 per cent. of these offer a 24 hour a day, seven day a week service. A small number of centres are in hospitals without an emergency department.
	 Source:
	British Cardiovascular Intervention Society audit of angioplasty as at September 2006.

Hospitals: Crimes of Violence

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to prevent incidents of violence against staff in  (a) Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull hospitals and  (b) hospitals nationwide.

Rosie Winterton: The NHS Security Management Service (NHS SMS) was created in April 2003, with both policy and operational responsibility for security management within the national health service. A comprehensive strategy has been implemented detailing the preventative pro-active and reactive action that is to be taken both nationally and locally to tackle this problem.
	A network of local security management specialists (LSMS) supported nationally by the NHS SMS guidance, has been introduced, as well as mandatory conflict resolution training for all front line NHS staff, with over 250,000 staff trained by March 2006.
	A national physical assault reporting system (PARS) has been developed to monitor and respond to incidents of assault against NHS staff. Using a clear definition as to what constitutes a physical assault, figures for the number of reported assaults against NHS staff 2005-06, released on 1 November 2006, indicate there were 1,690 fewer than 2004-05.
	New measures to tackle nuisance and disturbance behaviour on NHS premises have also been proposed and consulted upon. As well as reducing the impact of this behaviour on the delivery of healthcare, the proposed legislation will give health bodies the power to remove an individual displaying this behaviour before an incident may escalate into violence.
	Arrangements aimed at the prevention of violence against NHS staff specifically at Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS Trust are made at local level, responding to local requirements.

Hospitals: Transport

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has issued guidance to primary care trusts on how to estimate the carbon impact of changes in travel patterns arising from proposals for hospital reconfiguration.

Andy Burnham: Any proposals for the reconfiguration of services are a matter for the national health service locally. We would expect the local NHS to take into account a wide variety of issues when putting forward such proposals. There is a well established and well understood process for managing consultations on proposed changes so that patients, the public and other stakeholders can help to inform the local debate.

Influenza: Drugs

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1552W, on influenza, what the  (a) site and  (b) content is of the stockpile of antiviral drugs held by (i) the Government and (ii) the World Health Organisation.

Rosie Winterton: The United Kingdom Government's stockpile is composed of Oseltamivir. The stock for England is stored in a single location in England and the details of the location have not been made public for security reasons. The stock for each devolved administration has already been distributed to each country.
	The World Health Organisation's stockpile is composed of Oseltamivir and is being stored in Hoffman-LaRoche warehouses located in Switzerland and the United States of America.

Influenza: Drugs

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1552-53W, on influenza, if she will take steps to ensure that the preparedness of countries where humans have died from infection with avian influenza is brought up to at least the level that exists in the UK.

Rosie Winterton: International collaboration offers the best opportunity to improve preparedness internationally. The United Kingdom (UK) will continue to work closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the European Community and other bilateral and multi-national groups in this regard. In particular at the European Community, World Bank and People's Republic of China pledging conference on avian and pandemic influenza in Beijing in January 2006, the UK pledged $35 million (£20 million), with the aim of improving international preparedness and response.

Maternity Services

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on childbirth and maternity care by her Department in the latest year for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: Estimates of expenditure on childbirth and maternity care are available from the programme budgeting returns. In the 2005-06 financial year expenditure on maternity and reproductive health was estimated at £2.9 billion, with a further £0.8 billion spent on treating neonatal conditions.

Maudsley Hospital

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department has carried out a race equality impact assessment of the decision to close the Maudsley Hospital 24 hour emergency clinic; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 19 March 2007
	The Department did not carry out a race equality impact assessment of the Secretary of State's decision to support national health service proposals to reconfigure mental health crisis services in Southwark and Lambeth, which included the closure of the emergency clinic (EC) at the Maudsley hospital.
	A race equality impact assessment of the proposed closure of the EC was carried out at local level by the South London and Maudsley NHS trust in the autumn of 2006. In summary, the assessment did not demonstrate that closure of the EC would have an adverse impact upon service users from black and minority ethnic communities.

Mental Health

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of  (a) oral questions and  (b) written questions to her in the last session of Parliament were about mental health issues.

Rosie Winterton: The term mental health covers a wide range of topics and these cannot be identified separately from our data base without incurring disproportionate cost.

Mentally ill: Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will discuss with the Home Secretary the number of anti-social behaviour orders given to people with mental health conditions.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not collected centrally about the characteristics or circumstances of persons issued with antisocial behaviour orders, so it is not known how many were issued to people with mental health problems.
	However, the 2006 Home Office guidance, "Bigger, Better, Bolder", includes information on vulnerable people who commit antisocial behaviour. This makes it clear that, where there is evidence to suggest that a perpetrator of antisocial behaviour has a disability, learning disability, mental health problem, or is vulnerable in any other way then a practitioner with specialist knowledge should be involved in an assessment of the cause of the behaviour and how it can be addressed. The guidance calls for specialist involvement in the design of any intervention so this can be properly tailored to the needs of individuate and their carers.
	The Department and the Home Office have regular discussions on a range of issues and areas of concern.

Mid-Essex Hospital Trust: Redundancy

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many job losses are expected through  (a) compulsory redundancies and  (b) not filling vacancies at the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust in the period 2006 to 2008; and how many of these job losses will be (i) nurses, (ii) doctors and (iii) consultants.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 19 March 2007
	This information is not collected centrally.

Midwives

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the status is of her Department's six-point plan for the recruitment and retention of NHS midwives; what the total expenditure on the plan has been to date; what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the plan; and what future activity is planned.

Rosie Winterton: The six-point plan, developed in partnership with the Royal College of Midwives, was launched by the Government in March 2004.
	Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Workforce Development Confederation were responsible for the implementation of the plan, as part of the National Midwifery Recruitment, Retention and Return Project, which they led between 2003 and November 2007. They were given £200,000 to support the delivery of the project.
	Strategic health authorities will be sent project reports, outlining the effectiveness and recommending future action, for their specific area.

Midwives

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors are taken into account in estimating the average caseload of community midwives.

Ivan Lewis: Decisions about the size of community midwives' case loads are made locally. It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) in partnership with local stakeholders to commission services in order to meet the specific needs of the local community.
	The maternity standard of the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services requires national health service maternity care providers and PCTs to ensure that there is a range of ante-natal, birth and post-birth care services available locally.

Midwives

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant midwives there are in the NHS in England, broken down by region; and whether her Department has a target for the number of NHS consultant midwives.

Rosie Winterton: The following table shows the number of national health service consultant midwives by strategic health authority (SHA) area.
	The Department has not set a target for the number of NHS consultant midwives.
	
		
			  NHS consultant midwives by SHA area as at 30 September 2005 
			  SHA area  Headcount 
			  England  51 
			   
			 North East 2 
			 North West 10 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 5 
			 East Midlands 3 
			 West Midlands 1 
			 East of England 1 
			 London 20 
			 South East Coast 2 
			 South Central 7 
			  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census

National Patient Safety Agency

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the absence from work of the joint chief executives of the National Patient Safety Agency.

Ivan Lewis: The joint chief executives of the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) began a period of extended leave on 7 July 2006 and an interim chief executive was appointed on 31 July 2006. The agency has continued to deliver the work programme for 2006-07 that it agreed with the Department.
	The joint chief executives are due to retire on 31 March 2007 and the NPSA is currently in the process of recruiting a permanent chief executive.

NHS: Finance

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when there was last a national target for the level of administrative costs in the NHS; and what that level was.

Rosie Winterton: The NHS plan stated that
	"by 2004 the share of NHS spend on management costs will be cut so that a higher share of every pound spent goes into frontline patient care".
	As a percentage of the overall national health service budget management costs have fallen from 3.9 per cent. in 2002-03 to 3.7 per cent. in 2004-05, continuing the downward trend from 5 per cent. in 1997-98.
	In addition, the £250 million that will be released as a result of the recent re-organisation of the NHS will be returned directly into frontline services. Managers however will remain a key part of the NHS workforce in supporting clinical care and delivering improvements in waiting times and the accessibility of services.

NHS: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of payment by results on hospitals in the NHS.

Andy Burnham: Information about the programme of evaluation of payment by results is available on the Department website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/OrganisationPolicy/FinanceAndPlanning/NHSFinancialReforms
	The programme includes work done by national health service organisations in South Yorkshire, where most trusts were early implementers of payment by results, as well as specific research projects undertaken by the Centre For Health Economics at York university. We have also commissioned an independent evaluation of the implementation of payment by results from the Health Economics Research Unit at the university of Aberdeen, supported by the university of Dundee and the Office of Health Economics in London. This project began in December 2004 and is due to be completed this summer.

NHS: Foreign Workers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-UK nationals work for the NHS as  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

NHS: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for delaying the publication of the NHS workforce census.

Rosie Winterton: The Information Centre for health and social care had planned to publish the workforce census in March 2007. It will now be published in April 2007.
	This is because the reorganisation of primary care trusts (PCTs), which took place on 1 October 2006, has impacted on the collection process. Data have been provided by PCTs in different formats and this has required extensive validation (of the quality of data submitted), to ensure consistency with previous years. In many instances new staff within PCTs have been involved in this process, which has led to delays
	In addition over 200 organisations have submitted workforce data through the new national payroll system, the electronic staff record (ESR). Additional data validation has been undertaken to ensure that in the first year of deriving census information from this source, it is of at least equivalent quality to that previously collected directly from trusts and PCTs.
	The Information Centre for health and social care is working with the Department to review systems for collecting workforce information and looking at ways of building on the development of the ESR. When the ESR is fully rolled out across the national health service in 2008 this should enable comprehensive workforce data to be available more quickly and frequently.

NHS: Pay

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on  (a) employment of temporary staff and  (b) local area weighting allowances by each hospital acute trust and foundation hospital trust in 2005-06.

Rosie Winterton: The information has been placed in the Library. This shows expenditure by each national health service trust on salaries and wages of non-NHS staff and medical and dental London weighting in 2005-06.

NHS: Public Relations

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each NHS hospitals trust spent on public affairs support from private companies in the last 12 months.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not held by the Department.

NHS: Secondments

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration primary care trusts are required to give to the possible effects of secondments of staff for training purposes on the provision of  (a) front-line services and  (b) numbers of available beds before approving those secondments.

Rosie Winterton: Agreeing secondments is a local decision and will depend on both the financial and staff resource available to continue to deliver current service requirements. Properly managed secondments can deliver appropriate training and development needs for staff.

NHS: Training

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to ensure that health authorities and trusts collect adequate data on the involvement of staff in work-based learning;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to ensure that rates of participation in work-based learning are consistent across the different grades of NHS staff.

Rosie Winterton: This is a matter for local employers and strategic health authorities. Training needs for national health service staff are determined against local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses. Employers have a duty to ensure staff have the appropriate education and training to deliver priorities and services.
	Access to training courses or learning opportunities in the workplace is a local decision.

Nurses: Schools

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many school nurses were employed in each health region in England in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many school nurses there are in each health region in England.

Rosie Winterton: The number of school nurses employed in each health region is shown in the table. School nurses have only been separately identified robustly in the national health service workforce census since 2004.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified nurses in the school nursing area of work in England by strategic health authority area as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Headcount 
			   2004   2005  
			   Qualified school nursing nurses  Of which: qualified school nurses( 1)  Qualified school nursing nurses  Of which: qualified school nurses( 1) 
			 England 2,409 856 2,887 943 
			 North East Strategic Health Authority area 145 64 164 61 
			 North West Strategic Health Authority area 468 157 471 192 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority area 303 115 402 132 
			 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 230 38 255 34 
			 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 185 110 264 110 
			 East of England Strategic Health Authority area 186 71 287 50 
			 London Strategic Health Authority area 363 131 471 168 
			 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority area 180 82 203 97 
			 South Central Strategic Health Authority area 111 45 117 33 
			 South West Strategic Health Authority area 238 43 253 66 
			 (1) Qualified school nurses hold the NMC specialist practice qualification with an outcome in school nursing, which is a recordable qualification on the NMC register. School nursing nurses have only been collected from 2004 as a separate category.  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census.

Obesity: Children

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to encourage the NHS to provide fitness regimes for obese children; and how this will be funded.

Caroline Flint: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children in December 2006, which contained a series of recommendations across a wide range of sectors including the national health service. NICE recommend that obesity treatment and prevention interventions in the NHS should be long-term and must be multi-component rather than one-off activities. These programmes should include behaviour change strategies to increase people's physical activity levels or decrease inactivity, improve eating behaviour and the quality of the person's diet and reduce energy intake.

Operating Theatres

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many operations were conducted in each operating theatre in England in each of the last five years; how many hours per week each theatre was in use in each year; and what the net cost per theatre hour used was in each year;
	(2)  how many operations were conducted in England in each of the last five years, broken down by strategic health authority; how many hours per week on average an operating theatre was in use in each authority in each year; and what the net cost per theatre hour used in each authority was in each year.

Andy Burnham: Tables showing the numbers of procedures conducted in England in each of the last five years, by strategic health authority, have been placed in the Library. The rest of the information requested is not available centrally.

Ophthalmology: Training

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors were taken into account in deciding not to provide continuing educational training for dispensing opticians in the review of general ophthalmic services.

Rosie Winterton: The national health service provides a contribution to the cost of continuing education and training for professions whose income derives in part from providing NHS services. Under deregulatory changes approved by Parliament in 1986, the NHS provides optical vouchers to certain eligible groups to assist in buying glasses or contact lenses, but the dispensing of glasses is carried out on a private basis. The Department considers that these arrangements work well in promoting choice and access to services and that it would be anomalous to use public funds to make continuing education and training payments to health care professionals who do not provide services under contract to the NHS.

Paediatrics: Vetting

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paediatricians working in hospitals in England have an up-to-date Criminal Records Bureau certificate clearing them to work with children.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally. It is the responsibility of individual employers to carry out Criminal Records Bureau checks when employing any staff working with children, including paediatricians, in order to satisfy themselves that they are safe to carry out this type of work. NHS Employers provides guidance to employers on this matter.

Paramedical Staff: Manpower

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paramedics there were in each year since 2000; and what the projected numbers are in each year to 2010.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of paramedics in the national health service in England since 2000.
	It is for local planners with support from the workforce review team to determine their future requirement for paramedics to meet local service needs.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: paramedic staff 2000-05 
			  Paramedic  Headcount 
			 2000 6,790 
			 2001 7,075 
			 2002 7,147 
			 2003 7,241 
			 2004 7,536 
			 2005 8,311 
			  Source: NHS non medical census

Patients: Per Capita Costs

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of expenditure by her Department on  (a) male and  (b) female patients aged (i) 0 to 5, (ii) 5 to 9, (iii) 10 to 14, (iv) 15 to 20, (v) 21 to 25, (vi) 26 to 30, (vii) 31 to 40, (viii) 41 to 50, (ix) 51 to 60, (x) 61 to 70, (xi) 71 to 80 and (xii) over 80, excluding costs relating to maternity care and childbirth, in the latest year for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: The table shows the breakdown by age and gender of total hospital and community health services (HCHS) expenditure for the year 2003-04, excluding costs relating to maternity care and childbirth.
	The age groups from the programme budget differ to those requested.
	2003-04 is the latest year this data is available. Due to a change in national programme budgeting categories from 2004-05 onwards, we no longer collect HCHS expenditure data broken down by age and gender.
	
		
			  HCHS expenditure by age group and gender, 2003-04, millions 
			  Age group  0-4  5-15  16-44  45-64  65-74  75-84  85+  Total 
			 Expenditure (£ million) 2,376 1,461 9,245 7,021 5,890 6,763 3,818 36,574 
			  Of which: 
			 Male 1,217 749 4,632 3,470 2,783 2,740 1,090 17,873 
			 Female 1,160 712 4,613 3,551 3,107 4,022 2,727 18,701 
			  Notes: 1. Figures in table may not sum due to rounding.  2. The total HCHS expenditure in 2003-04 was £38,151 million. The difference of £1,577 million is attributable to maternity care and childbirth.

Pneumococcal Disease: Vaccination

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding she is providing for catch-up immunisation against paediatric pneumococcal disease in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Caroline Flint: For the catch-up immunisation programme, general practitioners are being remunerated £7.51 as an item of service payment for each child vaccinated as defined in Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendments) (No. 6) Direction 2006. Funding for the vaccination programme has been distributed to the national health service as part of the roll out of the 2006-07 central programme budgets.

Pneumococcal Disease: Vaccination

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the success of the catch-up programme in immunising children against paediatric pneumococcal disease.

Caroline Flint: Following the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine into the routine childhood immunisation programme, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is undertaking enhanced surveillance of pneumococcal disease in children. These data are available on the HPA website. The data show that cases of invasive pneumococcal disease, caused by serotypes against which the vaccine protects, are beginning to fall in younger children.

Primary Health Care: Eastern Region

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding was allocated to the East of England Deanery NHS in each year since 1997 to provide postgraduate training in the primary care sector; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally.

Skin Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the proportion of skin cancer cases attributable to the use of sun beds by people under the age of 18 years; and what steps she is taking to limit the use of sun beds by under-18s.

Caroline Flint: Information is not held centrally on the proportion of skin cancer cases attributable to the use of sunbeds by under 18-year-olds.
	SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention and sun protection campaign run by Cancer Research UK on behalf of the United Kingdom Health Departments, supports health promotion events, and includes in their printed resources and on the SunSmart website information to promote awareness of the risks to health associated with the use of sunbeds, including use by minors.
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines also recommend that sunbeds should not be used by young people and that the part of the guidelines providing advice for customers should be made available to the public at sunbed establishments. The Department and the HSE are in discussion about a review of the guidelines and whether they need to be strengthened.

Skin Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated to skin cancer education awareness.

Caroline Flint: The Department and the other United Kingdom health departments commission Cancer Research UK to run SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention and sun protection campaign. The SunSmart campaign includes raising both public and professional awareness of skin cancer through providing information about it and guidance on preventative measures to reduce the risks associated with skin cancer. The campaign raises awareness through support for health promotion events, the provision of printed resources, media briefings and through the SunSmart website. The Department contribution to the funding for the financial year 2007-08 will be £104,000.

Skin Cancer

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on (i) the number and (ii) children's unsupervised use of coin-operated unstaffed sunbed salons;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the therapeutic value of sunbed use.

Caroline Flint: Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation, both natural and artificial, is the most important modifiable risk factor for skin cancer. The Government do not advise people to avoid the sun entirely but to enjoy it safely and prevent sunburn. Similarly they advise against the use of sunbeds for cosmetic purposes but they recognise the right of individuals to make informed choices.
	The possible need for information about the number and distribution of coin-operated sunbeds, and the scale of any sunbed use by minors, is one factor that the Department has considered as part of its review of options for the regulation of such sunbeds.

Skin Cancer: Charities

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support her Department offers to skin cancer health campaigning initiatives by charities; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention and sun protection campaign which is run by the charity Cancer Research UK, receives funding from the Department and the other United Kingdom Health Departments. The campaign provides resources and information for health promotion events, and the SunSmart website also provides a valuable information resource for those interested in promoting health and preventing skin cancer.

Smoking

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the percentage of adults aged 16 and over who smoked in each year since 1977, broken down by gender.

Caroline Flint: Information on smoking prevalence for those aged 16 and over is available from the general household survey. The following table shows the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults, by gender in England, from 1978 to 2005, the earliest and latest years for which these data are available.
	
		
			  Prevalence of cigarette smoking in adults( 1)  by gender, 1978 to 2005, England 
			  Percentage 
			   All adults  Men  Women 
			  Unweighted
			 1978 40 44 36 
			 1982 35 37 32 
			 1986 32 34 31 
			 1990 29 31 28 
			 1992 28 29 27 
			 1994 26 28 25 
			 1996 28 28 27 
			 1998 27 28 26 
			 
			  Weighted
			 1998 28 29 26 
			 2000 27 29 25 
			 2001 27 28 25 
			 2002 26 27 25 
			 2003 25 27 24 
			 2004 25 26 23 
			 2005(2) 24 25 22 
			 Weighted bases 2005 (000)(3) 35,936 16,834 19,102 
			 Unweighted bases 2005(3) 18,613 8,663 9,950 
			 (1 )Aged 16 and over (2) 2005 data include last quarter of 2004-05 data due to survey change from financial year to calendar year (3) Trend tables show unweighted and weighted figures for 1998 to give an indication of the effect of the weighting. Bases for earlier years can be found in GHS reports for each year.  Source:  General Household Survey 2005. Office for National Statistics

Sonographers: Manpower

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sonographers were employed by the NHS in each of the last five years; how many sonographers were newly-registered in each year; how many sonographers are in training; and if she will make a statement on the future funding of training for sonographers.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 9 March 2007
	The Department does not collect central data on workforce numbers for sonographers employed by the national health service.
	The Society and College of Radiographers do hold some data on sonographer workforce numbers, however these only represent those people who choose to register with the society.
	Sonography is not commissioned nationally and it is for each NHS trust to make a case to its strategic health authority for funding to cover costs of training.

Special Advisers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the notices of external employment given by her special advisers in the past 12 months.

Ivan Lewis: The rules for civil servants, including special advisers, who wish to take up other employment in addition to their civil service duties are set out in section 4.3 of the Civil Service Management Code. Such information is not normally made public. There are no plans to create a public register of interests for special advisers.

Tuberculosis: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1977W, on tuberculosis in Greater London, if she will break down the figures by nationality of the patient.

Caroline Flint: Information on the nationality of tuberculosis patients is not collected centrally, although information is collected on country of birth. Because of the small numbers of cases reported by most countries of birth for individual boroughs, and the consequent risk of deductive disclosure, the following table provides aggregated data for the London region.
	
		
			  Country of birth  Number of cases reported in 2005 
			 Afghanistan 53 
			 Albania <10 
			 Algeria <10 
			 Angola 16 
			 Antigua and Barbuda <10 
			 Australia <10 
			 Bahrain <10 
			 Bangladesh 120 
			 Belgium <10 
			 Bolivia <10 
			 Brazil <10 
			 Bulgaria <10 
			 Burundi <10 
			 Cameroon <10 
			 Canada <10 
			 Central Africa <10 
			 China 30 
			 Colombia <10 
			 Congo 39 
			 Cote d'Ivoire 12 
			 Cuba <10 
			 Cyprus <10 
			 Dominica <10 
			 Ecuador <10 
			 Egypt <10 
			 Equatorial Guinea <10 
			 Eritrea 32 
			 Ethiopia 33 
			 France <10 
			 Gabon <10 
			 Gambia <10 
			 Georgia <10 
			 Germany <10 
			 Ghana 40 
			 Greece <10 
			 Grenada <10 
			 Guinea <10 
			 Guyana <10 
			 Hungary <10 
			 India 474 
			 Indonesia <10 
			 Iran, Islamic Republic of 13 
			 Ireland 26 
			 Italy <10 
			 Jamaica 33 
			 Kenya 86 
			 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of <10 
			 Kuwait <10 
			 Lebanon <10 
			 Lesotho <10 
			 Liberia <10 
			 Lithuania <10 
			 Malawi <10 
			 Malaysia 13 
			 Malta <10 
			 Mauritania <10 
			 Mauritius <10 
			 Mexico <10 
			 Mongolia <10 
			 Morocco 12 
			 Mozambique <10 
			 Myanmar <10 
			 Namibia <10 
			 Nepal 21 
			 New Zealand <10 
			 Niger <10 
			 Nigeria 104 
			 Pakistan 221 
			 Palestinian Territory, occupied <10 
			 Peru <10 
			 Philippines 28 
			 Poland <10 
			 Portugal 15 
			 Qatar <10 
			 Romania <10 
			 Russian Federation <10 
			 Rwanda <10 
			 Saudi Arabia <10 
			 Serbia and Montenegro <10 
			 Sierra Leone 32 
			 Singapore <10 
			 Solomon Islands <10 
			 Somalia 404 
			 South Africa 51 
			 Spain <10 
			 Sri Lanka 69 
			 Sudan <10 
			 Swaziland <10 
			 Sweden <10 
			 Tajikistan <10 
			 Tanzania 11 
			 Thailand 11 
			 Togo <10 
			 Trinidad and Tobago <10 
			 Tunisia <10 
			 Turkey 25 
			 Uganda 77 
			 United Kingdom 589 
			 United States <10 
			 Uzbekistan <10 
			 Vietnam 23 
			 West Indies <10 
			 Yemen <10 
			 Zambia 21 
			 Zimbabwe 61 
			 Country of birth not reported 450 
			 Total 3,479 
			  Note: Numbers of cases fewer than 10 are not provided by country of birth because of the risk of deductive disclosure.  Source: Health Protection Agency Enhanced Tuberculosis Surveillance.

Urology: Medical Treatments

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans her Department has to assist people with urology, continence and stoma problems in obtaining alternative service providers in the event that their current providers exceed the prescribed number of items they are allowed to dispense;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the impact on service providers of changes proposed recently by her Department to services for people with urology, continence and stoma problems;
	(3)  which organisations her Department consulted concerning proposals to change services for people with urology, continence and stoma problems; and what representations she has received on the adequacy of the consultation.

Ivan Lewis: We are currently consulting on changes to the payment process for items and services related to stoma and incontinence appliances within part IX of the Drug Tariff. Interested parties wishing to comment on these proposals can do so until the deadline of 2 April 2007.
	As this consultation process is ongoing, no decisions, or plans on changes to services for stoma and incontinence appliances have been finalised.
	It is not meaningful to provide a list of organisations consulted, or representations on the adequacy of the consultation process, until the consultation process has ended.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which individuals were sent copies of the draft guidelines on termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland; what the cost was per copy of the guidelines; and for what reason the draft guidelines were not subject to public consultation.

Paul Goggins: The draft "Guidance on Termination of Pregnancy in Northern Ireland" was issued to interested parties in January 2007. A list of consultees has been provided.
	Costs were limited to photocopying and postage costs met out of general departmental administrative expenditure. The Department decided to conduct a limited consultation on this guidance as there is no change in the law in NI and the document covers the clinical aspect of the issue.
	 List of consultees
	1. Family Planning Association
	2. Life
	3. Precious Life
	4. Doctors for Life
	5. Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child
	6. Northern Catholic Bishops
	7. Church Forum
	8. Workshop members
	9. Chief executives of HSS Boards and Trusts
	10. Chief executives of four Health and Social Care Councils
	11. NI Executive of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
	12. Royal College of Psychiatrists
	13. Royal College of General Practitioners
	14. Chief executive of the new Health and Social Services Authority
	15. Royal College of Nursing
	16. Royal College of Midwifery
	17. MLAs (party leaders and health representatives only)
	18. Law Society for NI
	19. The Bar Council
	20. NI Family Planning Doctors Association
	21. NI Medical And Dental Training Agency.
	 Note:
	2-6 of the organisations were permitted to intervene in the judicial review.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate his Department has made of the number of abortions that will be performed in Northern Ireland each year once the draft guidelines on termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland have been implemented; whether additional funding is being made available to health authorities in Northern Ireland to implement the draft guidelines; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: There is no change to the abortion law in Northern Ireland. The draft guidance restates the current law regarding termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland and provides clinical guidance on the issue.

Avian Influenza

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to protect the poultry industry in Northern Ireland following the reported outbreak of an H5N1 virus infection in Suffolk; and whether the Northern Ireland Influenza Pandemic Control Committee met in relation to the latest outbreak.

David Cairns: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) keeps the risk of Avian Influenza (AI) under constant review. The Department has a range of preventive measures in place, which are ongoing, to address the risk of AI entering Northern Ireland and to stop it spreading in poultry. Wild bird surveillance is under way this winter throughout Northern Ireland and to date no highly pathogenic H5N1 AI has been found here. A NI Bird Register is in place to gather essential information about poultry, game and other captive birds for the purposes of risk assessment, disease prevention and control. DARD has issued extensive guidance to bird keepers on biosecurity measures to protect their birds, including on how to plan for housing birds in the event of an outbreak. This is also available on the DARD website.
	Following the outbreak of H5N1 AI in Suffolk, DARD has reviewed the level of risk and has put in place some additional precautionary measures. These include the introduction of a number of trade restrictions including new general and specific licensing arrangements,, and a ban on the movement of birds from Great Britain to attend bird gatherings and pigeon races here. The Department has also reiterated to bird keepers the importance of good biosecurity measures to minimise the risk to their birds. The Department continues to liaise closely with Defra to monitor developments, and also maintains very close contact with the Department of Agriculture and Food in the Republic of Ireland. The Department will continue to keep the situation under constant review and the need for additional measures in proportion to the level of risk.
	The Department has a contingency plan in place for use in the event of an outbreak here to contain and eradicate H5N1 AI if it does occur here.
	H5N1 avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds. Transmission to humans in contact with poultry/other birds occurs rarely and to date has occurred almost exclusively in people with very close physical contact with infected birds. The Northern Ireland Pandemic Influenza Control Committee (NIPICC) is concerned with contingency planning for, and management of, a pandemic of human influenza. As such NIPICC does not have a role in reviewing/managing an outbreak of avian influenza and hence has not met in relation to the most recent H5N1 outbreak in Suffolk.

Burglary

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidences of domestic burglary were recorded in each Police Service of Northern Ireland district command unit area in each of the last 12 months; and how many people were apprehended for this crime over the same period.

Paul Goggins: Table 1 outlines the number of domestic burglaries recorded and cleared, by district command unit (DCU), during period 1 February 2006 to 31 January 2007. The PSNI do not collate statistics by the number of persons apprehended.
	Table 2 sets out details of the number of persons arrested for domestic burglary by DCU during the period 1 February 2006 to 31 January 2007. We have included this second table as it sets out the number of arrests per custody suite and not DCU as this is how it is recorded at present as not all DCU's have custody suites.
	
		
			  Table 1: Domestic burglaries recorded and cleared by district command unit—1 February 2006 to 31 January 2007 
			  District command unit  Recorded  Cleared 
			 Antrim 174 12 
			 Ards 139 13 
			 Armagh 275 43 
			 Ballymena 221 20 
			 Ballymoney 42 0 
			 Banbridge 172 5 
			 Carrickfergus 105 8 
			 Castlereagh 253 18 
			 Coleraine 147 18 
			 Cookstown 46 6 
			 Craigavon 385 19 
			 Down 256 36 
			 Dungannon and S. Tyrone 154 17 
			 East Belfast 379 29 
			 Fermanagh 143 11 
			 Foyle 469 74 
			 Larne 78 10 
			 Limavady 94 13 
			 Lisburn 667 44 
			 Magherafelt 58 6 
			 Moyle 39 9 
			 Newry and Mourne 367 24 
			 Newtownabbey 316 24 
			 North Belfast 489 48 
			 North Down 240 31 
			 Omagh 86 9 
			 South Belfast 702 107 
			 Strabane 57 12 
			 West Belfast 337 37 
			 Total 6,890 703 
			  Note: Figures are provisional and as such are liable to revision.  Source: Central Statistics Unit, PSNI 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Persons arrested for domestic burglary 1 February 2006- 31 January 2007 
			  District command unit  Number 
			 Antrim 58 
			 Ards 51 
			 Armagh 18 
			 Ballymena 34 
			 Banbridge 27 
			 Belfast East 62 
			 Belfast North 123 
			 Belfast South 102 
			 Belfast West 107 
			 Coleraine 64 
			 Cookstown 26 
			 Craigavon 22 
			 Down 66 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 14 
			 Fermanagh 16 
			 Foyle 96 
			 Limavady 22 
			 Lisburn 56 
			 Newry and Mourne 8 
			 Omagh 23 
			 Strabane 27 
			 Total 1,022

Departments: Correspondence

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many letters were  (a) sent and  (b) received by his Department in each of the last 12 months.

Peter Hain: The Northern Ireland Office does not hold the information for all letters centrally and could only provide the information at a disproportionate cost.
	The Department collates information for public letters and ministerial correspondence for the annual departmental report, as part of the six national standards for central Government which were introduced to the Department and its executive agencies from April 1997.
	The first two standards are to answer (1) letters from the general public and (2) ministerial correspondence quickly and clearly, within a departmental target of 15 working days. Performance for the period 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2006 was as follows:
	
		
			   Number of letters received  Percentage in target 
			 NIO Core 1,259 73 
			 Northern Ireland Prison Service 1,588 92 
			 Forensic Science Northern Ireland 92 98 
			 The Compensation Agency 13,506 92 
			 Public Prosecution Service for NI 549 97 
			 Youth Justice Agency 455 100

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in (i) his Department and (ii) each agency of the Department in each year since 1997-98; how much is planned to be spent for 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Northern Ireland Office does not hold the information centrally on involuntary and voluntary exit schemes since 1997and could provide the information only at a disproportionate cost. There is no planned spend for involuntary exit schemes in 2007-08. Voluntary exit scheme costs are generally met as a result of staff not being replaced and are infrequent.

Dogs: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dogs classified as dangerous under the relevant dangerous dogs legislation were signed over for humane destruction in Northern Ireland in each district council area in each of the past six months, broken down by breed of dog involved.

David Cairns: Local councils provide statistical information to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), with respect to enforcement of the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (as amended). The information is provided on a quarterly basis and includes the number of dogs destroyed under the legislation.
	The number of dogs handed in for humane destruction from March 2006 is detailed in the following table. From the information provided to DARD by local councils, it is understood that the dogs involved were all pit bull types. As these figures are incomplete and do not include details for all councils for the last quarter of 2006, I will write directly to the hon. Member with the complete data as soon as they become available.
	
		
			  Prohibited dogs handed in to local councils for humane destruction 
			   Quarter ending:  
			  Council  31 June 2006  31 September 2006  31 December 2006  Total 
			 Antrim 5 0 0 5 
			 Ards 0 0 (1)— 0 
			 Armagh(1) 0 0 0 0 
			 Ballymena 4 5 0 9 
			 Ballymoney 0 0 0 0 
			 Banbridge(1) 0 0 (1)— 0 
			 Belfast 9 5 9 23 
			 Carrick 0 0 0 0 
			 Castlereagh(1) 1 0 (1)— 1 
			 Coleraine(1) 0 0 (1)— 0 
			 Cookstown(1) 0 0 (1)— 0 
			 Craigavon 0 0 0 0 
			 Derry(1) 0 0 (1)— 0 
			 Down 0 0 0 0 
			 Dungannon 0 0 0 0 
			 Fermanagh 0 0 0 0 
			 Larne(1) 1 0 (1)— 1 
			 Limavady 0 0 0 0 
			 Lisburn 14 0 0 14 
			 Magherafelt 0 0 0 0 
			 Moyle(1) 0 0 (1)— 0 
			 Newry 0 0 0 0 
			 Newtownabbey(1) 0 0 (1)— 0 
			 North Down 0 0 0 0 
			 Omagh(1) 0 0 (1)— 0 
			 Strabane 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Total 34 10 9 53 
			 (1) Figures for final quarter of 2006 are not yet available.  Source: Figures supplied to DARD by district councils.

Domestic Wastes

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 27 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1258W, on domestic wastes, if he will name the suppliers that the three district councils used to insert microchips in the bins.

David Cairns: The three district councils in Northern Ireland which have claimed grant from the Waste Management Grant Scheme against the costs of "bin chipping" are: Craigavon, Newtownabbey and North Down.
	The suppliers used by Craigavon and Newtownabbey were Manvik, and the suppliers used by North Down were AMCS/Waste Management Solutions.

Domestic Wastes

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 27 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1258W, on domestic wastes, on what date funding was given for the installation of microchips in the bins.

David Cairns: Grant claimed for costs involved in the installation of "bin chips" was issued as follows:
	Craigavon—November 2006;
	Newtownabbey—March 2006 and May 2006; and
	North Down—October 2006

Drug Seizures

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what drugs seizures took place in each Northern Ireland prison in each of the last three years, broken down by drug type seized.

Paul Goggins: The following tables provide the information requested:
	
		
			  January to December 2004 
			   Maghaberry  Magilligan  Hydebank 
			 Cannabis 424.9 grams 156.8 grams 151.4 grams 
			 Diazepam 236.5 tablets 79 tablets — 
			 Temazepam 73 tablets 21 tablets 34 tablets 
			 Heroin 12 tablets — — 
			 Valium 9 tablets 11 tablets — 
			 Amphetamines 60 tablets 5 tablets — 
			  16.8 grams 3.1 grams  
			 Ecstasy 10 tablets 60 tablets 20 tablets 
			 Steroids 116.5 tablets 755 tablets 2 vials 
			   40 mills  
			 Prescription 80 tablets 8 tablets 54 tablets 
			 Unidentified 545 tablets 43 tablets 6 vials 
			 Cocaine 10 tablets — — 
			 LSD 2 tablets — — 
			 Viagra — — 2 tablets 
			 Opium — — — 
			 Barbiturate — — — 
		
	
	
		
			  January to December 2005 
			   Maghaberry  Magilligan  Hydebank 
			 Cannabis 303.3 grams 185. 2 grams 286.7 grams 
			 Diazepam 408.5 tablets — 38. 5 tablets 
			 Temazepam 28 tablets — 31.5 tablets 
			 Heroin 19.6 grams — 13 tablets 
			 Valium 1 tablet — — 
			 Amphetamines 5 tablets — — 
			 Ecstasy 1 tablet — 15 tablets 
			 Steroids 174 tablets 10 tablets 3 vials 
			  3 vials   
			 Prescription — — — 
			 Unidentified 263 tablets 42 tablets 50.5 tablets 
			 Cocaine 1 gram — — 
			 LSD — — — 
			 Viagra — — — 
			 Opium 2 tablets — — 
			 Barbiturate — — 2 grams 
		
	
	
		
			  January to December 2006 
			   Maghaberry  Magilligan  Hydebank 
			 Cannabis 316.7 grams 57.3 grams 30.35 grams 
			 Diazepam 465 tablets 200 tablets 15 tablets 
			 Temazepam 37 tablets — 4 tablets 
			 Heroin 3.9 grams — — 
			  5 tablets   
			 Valium 39 tablets — — 
			 Amphetamines 35 tablets — — 
			 Ecstasy 25 tablets — — 
			 Steroids 64 tablets — — 
			  3.1 grams   
			 Prescription 434 tablets 96 tablets 29 tablets 
			 Unidentified 534.5 tablets 223.5 tablets 2 tablets 
			   10.1 grams  
			 Cocaine — — — 
			 LSD 12.7 grams — — 
			 Viagra — — — 
			 Opium — — — 
			 Barbiturate — — —

Firearms: Crime

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent estimate he has made of the number of illegally-held weapons in circulation in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: As any estimate about the number of illegally-held weapons in Northern Ireland would be based on intelligence, it would be inappropriate to publish this information.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress being made towards the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety waiting times targets within each health trust area in Northern Ireland; and whether he expects the targets to be met in each case.

Paul Goggins: I have set targets that, by the end of March 2007, no patient should be waiting more than six months for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment and no more than six months for inpatient or daycase treatment.
	All trusts have made excellent progress since April 2006 and I am confident that both targets will be achieved at the end of March.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people died whilst waiting for treatment on the NHS in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years, broken down by health trust area; and what the length of wait was in each case.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not available.

Macular Degeneration

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland  (a) have wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD),  (b) were diagnosed with wet AMD in each of the last five years and  (c) he estimates will be diagnosed with wet AMD in the next 12 months.

Paul Goggins: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Department does not collect figures on the number of people who have wet age-related macular degeneration in Northern Ireland.
	 (b) The number of people diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration is not available. Information is available only on the number of admissions(1) to hospital, where the patient had a diagnosis of wet age-related macular degeneration.
	The following table shows the number of admissions(1) in Northern Ireland, during each year between 2001-02 and 2005-06 (the latest year for which figures are available), where at least one of the diagnoses was wet age-related macular degeneration.
	
		
			   Admissions( 1) 
			 2001-02 270 
			 2002-03 369 
			 2003-04 359 
			 2004-05 472 
			 2005-06 438 
			 (1) Discharges and deaths are used as an approximation to admissions.  Source: Hospital In-patient System. 
		
	
	The only treatment currently available to patients suffering from wet age-related macular degeneration on the NHS is photodynamic therapy. Patients for whom photodynamic therapy is not appropriate have two options:
	1. They can be reviewed as out-patients because they may become eligible for photodynamic therapy should their condition change; and
	2. They will be offered low vision support—for example, fitted with specialist glasses.
	Other drug therapies do exist which are yet to be approved by NICE and financially approved by commissioners.
	 (c) The number of people who will be diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration in the next 12 months is not available.

Motor Vehicles: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the criteria used to determine the location of mobile vehicle licence detection units take account of the estimated rate of licence evasion in various parts of Northern Ireland.

David Cairns: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland (DVLNI) treats Northern Ireland as one area for the detection of unlicensed vehicles and the vehicle excise duty evasion rate is given for Northern Ireland as a whole.
	However, DVLNI does consider evidence in respect of the unlicensed database, the continuous registration database and detections from previous deployments, which is collated. This is used to identify areas where it is felt the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) vehicles would be effective and work rotas are drawn up accordingly.

Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what use Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland makes of  (a) variography and  (b) pictometry techniques.

Maria Eagle: Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland makes no use of either technique.
	Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland currently has a reseller agreement with the Somerset-based UK agent for pictometry and, as part of that agreement, holds a sample dataset of the North Down area of Northern Ireland for demonstration purposes.

Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what satellite photography Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland has  (a) used and  (b) purchased in the last five years; and what high resolution satellites were used.

Maria Eagle: The information is as follows:
	 (a) In the last five years Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland has used 10 and 20 metre resolution (captured in 1990) and five metre resolution (captured in 2000) satellite photography as background imagery to assist in creating land use datasets for use within the MOLAND spatial indicators project.
	 (b) Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland purchased the 1990 photography in 2005. The 2000 photography is owned by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission and was provided, under licence, to Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland for the duration of the project.
	Spot satellites were used for the 1990 10 and 20 metre resolution photography and the IRS (Indian Remote Sensing) satellite was used for the 2000 five metre resolution photography.

Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the  (a) purpose and  (b) function is of the Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland's STAR computer system.

Maria Eagle: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The purpose of Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland's (OSNI) STAR (System for Tracking AceMap Requests) System is to record, in a central computerised system, all ground changes relevant to the updating of OSNI large scale mapping and to track the progress of the surveying of those changes and their addition to the OSNI topographic database.
	STAR has been provided to a number of OSNI key customers in order that they can input notifications of change, query the progress of OSNI surveying relevant to their business needs, and perform limited spatial queries.
	 (b) The system records notification of ground changes, such as new housing development, on a map background. Notifications can be added by OSNI staff and/or users of OSNI mapping such as the Land Registers of Northern Ireland (LRNI) either from local knowledge, new address information supplied by the local authorities or from aerial photography within the STAR system. The recorded information is used by OSNI managers to allocate work to the OSNI survey teams and to track the progress of that work. Customers such as LRNI can also monitor any requests for map updates that they submit using the system. STAR also provides several map query tools that enable users to take measurements such as distance and area from the underlying OSNI large-scale mapping.

Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what maximum or highest resolution of aerial photography Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland holds for any part of Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: The highest resolution aerial photography that Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland holds for any part of Northern Ireland is 1:5,000 scale.

Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many aerial photographs Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland has  (a) purchased and  (b) taken in-house in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The information is as follows:
	 (a) In each of the last five calendar years Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland has purchased the following numbers of aerial photographs.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002 — 
			 2003 4,539 
			 2004 1,789 
			 2005 2,263 
			 2006 1,948 
			 Total 10,539 
		
	
	 (b) In each of the last five calendar years Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland has taken, in-house, the following numbers of aerial photographs.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2007 1,950 
			 2008 2,720 
			 2009 2,368 
			 2010 2,825 
			 2011 5,303 
			 Total 15,166

Parliament Buildings

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of external lighting of Parliament Buildings for the most recent period for which figures are available in each of the last five years.

Peter Hain: The cost of electricity for Parliament Buildings over the past five years is as follows:
	
		
			   £000 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 117 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 130 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 125 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 82 
			 April 2006 to November 2006 75 
		
	
	The slightly lower figures for 2005 and 2006 are primarily down to there being less people in the building.
	These costs are for total electricity usage as it is not possible to separate the cost of external lighting.

Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1883W, on the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, if he will meet the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland to discuss her definition of collusion as used in her recent report.

Paul Goggins: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has no plans to meet the Police Ombudsman to discuss specifically her definition of collusion as used in her recent report. However, broad issues arising from the Police Ombudsman's report have been discussed in meetings including the Ombudsman and Ministers.

Ports

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the authorities at  (a) the Port of Belfast and  (b) the Port of Larne on their future plans for development; and what meetings he has had with representatives from these ports in each of the past five years.

David Cairns: During the period of direct rule from October 2002, Ministers with responsibility for ports and harbours in Northern Ireland have met with the respective ports on the following occasions:
	 Port of Belfast
	28 May 2003
	26 July 2004
	27 March 2006
	27 June 2006
	26 August 2006
	11 December 2006
	12 February 2007
	 Port of Larne
	14 January 2003
	13 January 2004
	Ministers were briefed on future port development plans at a number of these meetings. Decisions on port development are matters for the trust port of Belfast and the privately owned port of Larne.

Ports

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the likely impact on trade at the Ports of Belfast, Larne and Warrenpoint of the proposed ports development on the east coast of the Irish Republic; and what discussions he has had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on these developments.

David Cairns: I have not discussed the proposed ports development on the east coast with Republic of Ireland Ministers.
	The assessment of the likely impact on trade at the trust ports of Belfast and Warrenpoint and the privately owned port of Larne are commercial matters for each of the ports.

Prisons: Drugs

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent estimate he has made of levels of drug use in Northern Ireland's prisons; and what steps he is taking to prevent drug use in prisons.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service collates monthly statistics from each of the establishments broken down by drug types and quantities found. A quarterly report is presented to the management board analysing the trend over the previous three months. Figures outlining the number of voluntary drug tests and the pass and failure rate are also provided.
	Prevention methods used by the Prison Service include the searching of visitors and inmates, the use of passive drag dogs, deployment of specialist equipment and trained staff, the use of CCTV in all areas and the collation of intelligence in liaison with other Criminal Justice Agencies.
	An addictions manager has been appointed to implement the service's revised Alcohol and Substance Misuse Policy and she will take up her post soon.

Public Sector: Pay

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the pay award to nurses and other public sector workers for 2007-08; and what assessment he has made of the effect of this announcement on the  (a) morale and  (b) productivity of public sector workers in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: I am discussing the application of the recent Pay Review Body settlements with ministerial colleagues in HM Treasury. Where comparable, the settlements, including those for nurses and other health professionals, will apply in Northern Ireland. The Pay Review Body pay awards should ensure that the public sector can recruit, retain and motivate suitable staff. The Government have achieved a great deal in recent years with significantly increased investment in public services, with the NHS being the main beneficiary. This in turn has led to greatly increased pay for front line staff, fully recognising the hard work they undertake and service they offer on a daily basis. On balance, the latest pay award ensures that key front line workers continue to be fairly rewarded while maintaining the wider need for overall awards that help maintain our current UK economic success.
	While Northern Ireland health care workers are not formally covered by the Pay Review Bodies this will change in 2008-09 when these staff groups are incorporated formally into the pay review body process. A productivity working group has been established in Northern Ireland following the independent Appleby Review. This group will continue to monitor and assess productivity levels in the local health sector.

Pupils: Intimidation

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance and guidance is provided by his Department to help  (a) teachers and  (b) pupils deal with bullying.

Maria Eagle: The Department has taken pro-active steps to tackle bullying through development and publication of guidance. Furthermore, the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 2003, which came into operation on 1 April 2003, places a duty on all grant-aided schools to have an anti-bullying policy and to draw up measures to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils. Inspections of pastoral care arrangements in schools include an assessment of anti-bullying measures and if improvements can be made schools are advised at the time.
	In 2004 the Department in partnership with voluntary organisations, including Save the Children, established an Anti-bullying Forum to enable a collaborative and co-ordinated approach to tackling bullying in schools. The Forum enables members to share models of best practice and disseminate information, to develop and co-ordinate joint initiatives and to ensure that schools and organisations working with children and young people are able to develop appropriate strategies to prevent and deal with bullying behaviours.
	From early 2006 the Department has been funding a coordinator post attached to the NI Anti-Bullying Forum. She is currently involved in developing a regional anti-bullying strategy based on good practice here and elsewhere and in developing a support network for schools. In addition she will be researching best practice solutions to emerging problems such as cyber-bullying.

Pupils: Intimidation

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of bullying were recorded in schools in each education and library board area in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years.

Maria Eagle: The Department of Education does not collect this information.
	A research report on the scale and nature of bullying in schools, commissioned by the Department, will be published later this year. That will allow for a comparison with a similar study published in 2002 and the identification of any change.

Railways: Belfast

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding is planned for the Belfast to Larne railway line in the next three years.

David Cairns: Translink's capital programme for the next three years on the Larne line is as follows:
	Completion of the works to Three Mile Water Viaduct as the final part of the Bleach Green to Whitehead Re-lay Project (£500,000)
	Improvements to signalling systems (although most of the £915,000 spend will be in 2010/11)
	Works to sea defences (£300,000)
	Bridge strike protection at Carrickfergus (£150,000)
	Plans have also been approved to improve facilities and disabled access across the whole railway network at a cost of £17 million. All of the stations and halts on the Larne line will benefit from this project.

Road Traffic Offences

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motorists in Northern Ireland should have completed the Statutory Off Road Notice during 2006, but did not; and how many of these were subsequently prosecuted.

David Cairns: Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) was introduced in Northern Ireland in December 2002. However, the offence of failing to make a SORN declaration was superseded in December 2003 by the introduction of continuous registration which created the new offence of being the keeper of an unlicensed vehicle; a vehicle being unlicensed if neither a current licence nor a Statutory Off Road Notification is in force. Accordingly, there are no longer any prosecutions specifically for failing to make a Statutory Off Road Notification. During 2006, action was taken against 12,837 motorists for being the keeper of an unlicensed vehicle, resulting in the payment of over £538,000 in penalties.

Roads: Belfast

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made with the upgrading of  (a) the A8 Belfast to Larne Road and  (b) the A72 Belfast to Carrickfergus Road; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: The chief executive of roads service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
	 Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 13 February 2007:
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a parliamentary question regarding what progress has been made with the upgrading of  (a) the A8 Belfast to Larne Road and  (b) the A72 Belfast to Carrickfergus Road; and if he will make a statement. As this issue falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.
	Roads Service completed a package of major improvements on the A8 Belfast to Larne road in 2005 at a cost of some £13.3 million. With the completion of these works, which included a significant number of safety improvements, approximately 43 per cent. of the road between Sandyknowes (M2) and Larne is now of dual or motorway standard. Current traffic volumes on the remaining single carriageway section, between Ballynure and Kilwaughter do not merit the provision of a dual carriageway standard road at this time and it is the Department's view that the recent improvements provide a high level of service on this road.
	However, you will be aware that on 31 July 2006, the Minister for Regional Development David Cairns MP, published the Consultation Document — 'Expanding the strategic road improvement programme 2015'. This included a proposed £10 million improvement scheme at the M2/A8 (M) Sandyknowes Junction. Roads Service has received some 80 responses to the document including a number in support of further upgrading of the A8. All responses are currently being considered and it is hoped that an announcement of the final proposals "will be made later this year.
	You also enquired about progress on upgrading the A72 Belfast to Carrickfergus Road. I presume you meant the A2 Belfast to Carrickfergus Road.
	I can advise that a proposed road improvement scheme on the A2 at Greenisland is included in Roads Service's major works preparation pool. The preparation pool comprises the highest priority major works schemes which are being designed and taken through the necessary statutory procedures with a view to progressing to construction within the next five years.
	Following assessment of alternative route options, a preferred route has been selected and a preliminary design has been completed. The Department has prepared a Notice of Intention to Make a Direction Order, a Notice of Intention to make a Vesting Order, and an Environmental Statement, which we plan to publish in March 2007. A public exhibition will be held to coincide with the publication of these documents and there will be a formal period for public comment/objection to the Department's proposals which, depending on the outcome, may result in a public inquiry being required.
	Subject to the successful completion of the statutory procedures and funding being available, Roads Service would hope to commence construction in 2008-09.

Roads: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost to the public purse was of the road gritting programme in Northern Ireland between 1 November and 31 January in each of the last four years.

David Cairns: The chief executive of roads service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	 Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 19 February 2007:
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding, what the total cost to the public purse was of the road gritting programme in Northern Ireland between 1st November and 31st January in each of the last four years. As this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.
	I can advise that the total cost of Roads Service's winter gritting programme in Northern Ireland between lst November and 31st January in each of the last four years is as follows:
	
		
			   Cost of winter gritting programme (£000) 
			 1 November 2003 to 31 January 2004 2,072 
			 1 November 2004 to 31 January 2005 2,064 
			 1 November 2005 to 31 January 2006 1,822 
			 1 November 2006 to 31 January 2007 (1)1,770 
			 (1 )Approximately

Schools: Fire Prevention

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what fire safety training is provided to teachers and other school staff in Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: Fire safety training is the responsibility of individual school Boards of Governors. In order to help them carry out that responsibility, the Education and Library Boards have set out detailed fire precautions guidance in their publication "Health and Safety Manual—A Manual for Principals and Governors". That manual requires school principals to ensure staff receive training in areas such as fire prevention and evacuation and also requires that a safety inspection is completed annually. Principals and governors of schools are further assisted by each board's health and safety practitioner in the preparation of fire evacuation policies and testing of school-based procedures. While primarily aimed at governors in controlled and maintained schools, the manual is also available via the boards' websites to voluntary grammar and grant-maintained integrated schools, whose governors have similar responsibilities.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the proposed Marine Bill; and whether the Bill will be extended to Northern Ireland.

David Cairns: On 15 March, the Government published "A Sea Change, a Marine Bill White Paper" which set outs proposals for a new legal and management framework for the marine environment including Northern Ireland. However the White Paper makes it clear that it will be a matter for the incoming Assembly and local Ministers to decide on Northern Ireland's continued involvement in taking forward the proposals.

Secure Accommodation

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients were held in secure accommodation in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years who were not designated as requiring such accommodation.

Paul Goggins: This information is not available.

Smoking

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidance and assistance has been provided by his Department to affected businesses in enforcing the smoking ban in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has funded the appointment of Smoke-free Environments Officers, who are currently providing advice and guidance to employers and businesses about the forthcoming smoke-free legislation. In addition, the Health Promotion Agency will next month distribute, on behalf of the Department, a smoke-free guidance pack for employers. The pack, which will include sample "no smoking" signage, is available for downloading now from the Agency's "Space to breathe" website:
	www.spacetobreathe.org.uk

Swans

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of whooper swans that settle in Northern Ireland each year; where they stay; whether any of the sites are potentially affected by road schemes; and if he will make a statement on the protections afforded to the swans;
	(2)  when he expects to reply to question 119455, on the protection afforded to whooper swans in Northern Ireland, tabled by the hon. Member for Worthing West on 27 February for answer on 6 February.

David Cairns: Due to an administrative oversight question 119455 was not answered earlier.
	The most recent survey recorded 4,331 whooper swans in Northern Ireland in January 2005.
	There are five main sites that regularly support whooper swans in numbers of international or regional importance. These are Upper Lough Erne, Lough Neagh and Lough Beg, Lough Foyle, River Foyle, River Lagan-Flatfield and River Blackwater-Derryscollop. There are a number of other smaller, more widely dispersed flocks.
	My officials are aware of only one road scheme with the potential to impact on a whooper swan site. This is the proposed further road development at Toome, County Londonderry. This is still at the planning stage and is subject to an assessment as required by article 6 of the Habitats Directive. Recent surveys of the swans at this location will provide further information on the number and behaviour of birds overwintering on Lough Beg.
	Whooper swan is listed in Annex II of the Birds Directive and three special protection areas have been classified for them at Lough Neagh and Lough Beg, Lough Foyle and Upper Lough Erne.
	Whooper swan is also listed on schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, which affords protection for them throughout Northern Ireland.

Towerview School, Bangor

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the timetable is for the new school build for Towerview Primary School in Bangor; whether he expects this timetable to be met; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I understand that planning for Towerview Primary School is well advanced and that final design stage costs are to be submitted by the South Eastern Education and Library Board to the Department of Education for approval. Once design costs have been received and approved it would normally take a few months to complete the remaining stages before construction work could commence. I would therefore expect that the scheme should be able to start by the summer and take around 12 to 15 months to finish, subject to the necessary stages being completed satisfactorily.

Translink: Closed Circuit Television

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the Translink public transport fleet has CCTV fitted; and what assessment he has made of the impact of CCTV in deterring crime on the transport network where it is used.

David Cairns: Translink has advised that the percentage of public transport that has been fitted with CCTV is as follows: Metro 64 per cent., Ulsterbus 22 per cent., NIR 61 per cent.
	Case studies of bus security and good practice clearly indicate that CCTV has a role to play in crime reduction and improved driver/passenger security and that staff morale and customer confidence is increased by the use of on-board CCTV. It is the intention that all new vehicles are fully equipped with CCTV systems at build stage.

Travel: Concessions

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of those eligible were issued with a Smart Pass in each of the last six years, broken down by eligibility category.

David Cairns: The information is not readily available in the form requested. SmartPasses were first issued by the Department for Regional Development in March 2002 and became operational in May 2002. Although the number issued is known, there is no record of the number of former passholders who are now deceased. The following table sets out the number of first-time passes issued by eligibility category in each of the last six financial years. These figures do not include SmartPasses issued to replace those reported lost, damaged, stolen, etc. It has not been possible to obtain exact figures for eligible populations, but the table includes estimates used for planning and budgetary purposes.
	
		
			  Financial year  Senior  War pensioner  Blind  Half fare 
			 2001-02 54,218 0 0 0 
			 2002-03 98,795 1,126 0 0 
			 2003-04 14,966 69 1,268 1,781 
			 2004-05 10,735 58 101 6,719 
			 2005-06 11,412 57 61 2,557 
			 2006-07 (to 28 February 2007) 11,764 56 74 1,825 
			 Total SmartPasses issued 201,890 1,366 1,504 12,882 
			 Estimated eligible population (1)240,000 (2)3,640 (3)5,000 (4)150,000 
			 (1 )Mid-year population estimates Northern Ireland 2004 (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency). (2) Source: The Veterans Agency (3) Source: The Royal National Institute for the Blind (4) Source: Based on total of DLA Mobility Component recipients (DSDNI), and estimates of total numbers of registered partially sighted, learning disabled and not eligible to receive a driving licence on medical grounds.

Water Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the proposed cap on capital values for domestic properties will apply to water bills.

David Cairns: The inclusion of a charge cap for the unmeasured domestic charging regime has been an integral part of the proposals since they were first published in the integrated impact assessment consultation (November 2004).
	The proposed cap seeks to ensure that domestic customers whose properties have a high capital valuation do not pay charges which are substantially higher than could be justified by their use of the services.
	The charge cap for 2007-08 has been set at £385 for water (around £128 with the phasing in of charges) and £385 for sewerage (around £128 with phasing). It is estimated that the capped charge will apply to around 1 per cent. of properties.

Water Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimate is of the highest domestic water bill in Northern Ireland under the new capital value system once transitional relief has been phased out.

David Cairns: The average combined bills in 2009-10 when water and sewerage charges are fully phased in will be around £340 (the projected England and Wales average charge) with the highest combined water and sewerage bills being capped at around £800.

Water: Meters

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Northern Ireland Administration is taking to provide the option of water metering for households that wish to opt in to a meter.

David Cairns: As the first steps in a managed, long-term transition to widespread metering, from 1 April 2007 meters will be installed on all new connections (new build properties and first time connections); and all consumers aged 60 years or over will be able to apply for a meter. Information packs, including how to apply for a meter, are currently being circulated to all households in Northern Ireland.
	This phased approach will be reviewed within two years when decisions will be taken about extending the metering option to further groups of consumers.

Water: Meters

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of existing domestic properties in Northern Ireland will be able to volunteer to have a water meter installed from April 2007 rather than pay the unmetered rate.

David Cairns: From April 2007 Northern Ireland Water will begin a managed long-term transition to widespread domestic metering. Meters will be installed in all new properties and first time connections and metering will be available to pensioner households who apply. For the purposes of this provision pensioner households includes those where the householder is aged 60 or over. It is estimated that such households account for around 30 per cent. of existing domestic properties.
	This policy is due to be reviewed within two years.